System and method for dynamic queue management using queue protocols

ABSTRACT

A system and method for efficiently processing and managing data stored in a queue. A processing device may process the data stored in the queue. Queue protocols can be applied to the queue to efficiently process and manage data stored in the queue. Queue protocols may facilitate efficient use of processing resources that process the data stored in one or more queues. A queue protocol may include at least a first protocol for facilitating transfer of data in the queue to another queue processed by another processing device or a second protocol for inhibiting transfer of data in the queue to another queue.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 15/014,923, filed Feb. 3, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,608,929, issuedMar. 28, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part application which claimsthe priority benefit under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Non-Provisionalapplication Ser. No. 11/702,344, filed on Feb. 5, 2007, which is acontinuation application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No.11/386,459, filed on Mar. 22, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,945,463, issuedMay 17, 2011, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/663,999, filed on Mar. 22, 2005, U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/664,234, filed on Mar. 22, 2005, U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/664,131, filed on Mar. 22, 2005, U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/664,028, filed on Mar. 22, 2005, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/664,000, filed on Mar. 22, 2005, the disclosures ofeach of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety forall purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to the management of queue datastructures stored in a memory. More particularly, this disclosurerelates to the processing of data stored in queues using queueprotocols.

BACKGROUND

Data structures can collect and store data. For example, a queue canstore data in a particular order, and the stored data can be processedat a later time. However, management of processing the data stored inthe queue is often inefficient or burdensome on processing resources(e.g., a processor).

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a method for effective queue management bydynamically providing additional resource information is provided. Themethod can include receiving, at an access management system, a firstcommunication from an electronic device associated with a user. Thefirst communication can include first data representing a first requestto associate the user with a first access right to a first resource. Themethod may further include calculating a position in a first queue forstoring an identifier code in response to the received firstcommunication. For example, the identifier code can correspond to thefirst request. Further, the first queue can store a plurality ofidentifier codes. Each of the plurality of identifier codes cancorrespond to an additional request to associate an additional user withan additional access right to the first resource. The method can alsoinclude identifying a number of positions in the first queue before theidentifier code is to be processed. For example, processing theidentifier code can correspond to enabling association of the user withthe access right. The method can also include determining a queuingprotocol from amongst a plurality of queuing protocols and accessingadditional resource data from one or more data stores. For example, thequeuing protocol can facilitate management of the plurality ofidentifier codes stored in the first queue. The additional resource datacan represent a plurality of additional resources. The method caninclude dynamically identifying a set of additional resources from theplurality of additional resources. The identification of the set ofadditional resources can be based on the queuing protocol. The methodcan also include transmitting a second communication to the firstelectronic device. For example, the second communication can includesecond data representing the set of additional resources. Further, thetransmission of the second communication can enable display of the setof additional resources on the first electronic device.

In some embodiments, a computer program product or system is providedthat is tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storagemedium. The computer program product or system includes instructionsconfigured to cause one or more data processors to perform actionsincluding part or all of a method disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appendedfigures:

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a resourceaccess-facilitating interaction system;

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of hardware and network connections of aresource access-facilitating interaction system according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a communication exchange betweencomponents involved in a resource access-facilitating interaction systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates example components of a device;

FIG. 5 illustrates example components of resource access coordinatormodule;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process forassigning access rights for resources;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show embodiments of site systems in relations to mobiledevices;

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of user device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates sample components of an embodiment of site system180, including connections to a NAS and access management system;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process for queue managementaccording to an embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is an example illustration according to an embodiment.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features can have thesame reference label. Further, various components of the same type canbe distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating various embodiments, are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to necessarily limit the scope ofthe disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The ensuing description provides preferred exemplary embodiment(s) onlyand is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configurationof the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the preferredexemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with anenabling description for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment.It is understood that various changes can be made in the function andarrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope asset forth in the appended claims.

Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate toefficient processing and management of data stored in a queue. Aprocessing device (e.g., a processor, central processing unit (CPU), andthe like) may process the data stored in the queue. Queue protocols canbe applied to the queue to efficiently process and manage data stored inthe queue. In some embodiments, queue protocols may facilitate efficientuse of processing resources (e.g., processing devices, CPUs, and thelike) that process the data stored in one or more queues. For example, aqueue protocol may include a protocol for managing tasks associated withthe data stored in the queue. In some examples, the queue protocol mayfacilitate (e.g., motivate) transfer of data in the queue to anotherqueue processed by another processing device. In other examples, thequeue protocol may inhibit (e.g., discourage) transfer of data in thequeue to another queue.

In some embodiments, users may transmit requests for access to aresource. The requests may be received at an access management systemthat manages access to the resource. The access management system mayindividually store the requests in a first queue, which corresponds tothe resource. For example, a request for access to a resource maycorrespond to a request to associate a user with the resource. Further,the requests or indications representing the requests may be stored in asequential order at various positions in the first queue. For example, afirst request transmitted by a first user device may be stored at afirst queue position and a second request transmitted by a second userdevice may be stored at a second queue position.

The access management system may calculate a position (e.g., the firstqueue position) in the first queue for storing an identifier codecorresponding to the first request to associate the user with theresource. The first queue may store identifier codes corresponding to aplurality of requests from various users. The identifier codes stored inthe first queue may be processed in a sequential order by a firstprocessor. Further, the access management system may identify a numberof positions in the first queue before the first processor is to processthe identifier code for the first request. For example, the number ofpositions remaining in the first queue before the first queue positionis to be processed may be determined. Processing the identifier codecorresponding to the first request may enable association of the user oruser device with an access right to access the resource.

Further, the access management system may determine a queue protocolfrom among a plurality of queue protocols. For example, the queueprotocol may facilitate management of the plurality of identifier codesstored in the first queue. As another example, the queue protocol mayinclude a decision tree or task workflow for motivating deletion orcancellation of the identifier code stored in the first queue, therebyreducing the processing load on the first processor. The decision treeor task workflow may include facilitating (e.g., motivating) transfer ofthe identifier code corresponding to the first request to a second queueassociated with another resource. For example, facilitating transfer ofthe identifier code to a second queue may include identifying aplurality of additional resources (e.g., resources other than therequested resource), determining a set of additional resources from theplurality of additional resources, and transmitting the set ofadditional resources to the user device to be displayed on the userdevice. The set of additional resources may be dynamically identified tomotivate (e.g., increase the likelihood the user will select an additionresource) the user to select one of the additional resources from theset of additional resources, thereby transferring the identifier codecorresponding to the first request to a second queue (e.g., a queuecorresponding to the selected additional resource). The second queue maybe managed by a second processor. In other examples, the second queuemay still be managed by the first processor.

As another example, the queue protocol may include a decision tree ortask workflow for inhibiting (e.g., discouraging) transfer of theidentifier code corresponding to the first request to the second queue.For example, inhibiting transfer of the identifier code may includeidentifying a plurality of additional resources (e.g., resources otherthan the requested resource), determining a set of additional resourcesfrom the plurality of additional resources, and transmitting the set ofadditional resources to the user device to be displayed at the userdevice. The set of additional resources may be dynamically identified todiscourage (e.g., decrease the likelihood the user will select anadditional resource) the user from selecting one of the additionalresources from the set of additional resources (e.g., discouraging theuser from transferring the identifier code to a second queue associatedwith another resource). In some examples, one queue protocol may beapplied to a first segment (e.g., a first group of positions) of thefirst queue and another queue protocol may be applied to a secondsegment (e.g., a second group of positions) of the first queue.

Accordingly, processing resources (e.g., CPUs that process data storedin queues) may be improved and efficiently managed using queueprotocols. The overall processing demand (e.g., system load) experiencedat a processor managing a queue may be efficiently managed by applying aqueue protocol to a portion or all of the queue. For example, when thefirst queue is overloaded (e.g., the load on the first processormanaging the first queue is high), a queue protocol may be applied tothe first queue to motivate transfer of data stored in the first queueto a second queue managed by a second processor, thereby improvingmanagement of processing resources and improving overall operation ofthe access management system.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a resource managementsystem 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Mobiledevice 110 (which can be operated by a user 105) and an event-providerdevice 120 (which can be operated, controlled, or used by an eventprovider 115) can communicate with an access management system 185directly or via another system (e.g., via an intermediate system 150).Mobile device 110 may transmit data to access point 145, which isconnected to network 155, over communication channel 140 using antennae135. While FIG. 1 illustrates mobile device 110 communicating withaccess point 145 using a wireless connection (e.g., communicationchannel 140), in some embodiments, mobile device 110 may alsocommunicate with access point 145 using a wired connection (e.g., anEthernet connection). Mobile device 110 can also communicate with one ormore client devices, such as a client agent device 170 operated by aclient agent 175, a client register 160 or a client point device 165using a wired or wireless connection. In addition, using the accessmanagement system 185, an event provider 115 can identify an event, aparameter of attending the event, a date or dates of the event, alocation or locations of the event, etc. Each inter-system communicationcan occur over one or more networks 155 and can facilitate transmissionof a variety of types of data. It will be understood that, although onlyone of various systems, devices, entities and network are shown, theresource management system 100 can be extended to include multiple ofany given system(s), device(s), entity(ies), and/or networks.

Access management system 185 can be configured to manage a dynamic setof access rights to one or more resources. More specifically, accessmanagement system 185 can track which resources are to be made availableto users, specifications of the resources and times at which they willbe available. Access management system 185 can also allocate accessrights for resources and facilitate transmissions of notifications ofthe available rights to a set of user devices. For example, accessmanagement system 185 can alert users of the availability via a website,app page or email. As another example, access management system cantransmit data about access rights and resources to one or moreintermediate systems 150, which can facilitate distribution ofaccess-right availability and processing of requests for such rights.

Notifications of available access rights can be accompanied by optionsto request that one or more access rights be assigned to a user.Therefore, user 105 can provide input to mobile device 110 via aninterface to request such assignment and provide other pertinentinformation. Intermediate system 150 and/or access management system 185can process the request to ensure that the requested access right(s)remain available and that all required information has been receivedand, in some instances, verified. Thereafter, access management system185 can assign one or more access rights to the user, e.g., matching theaccess rights requested by the user.

Assigning an access right can include, for example, associating anidentifier of the right with an identifier of a user, changing a statusof the right from available to assigned, facilitating a cease innotifications that the access right is available, generating anaccess-enabling code to use such that the corresponding access will bepermitted and/or generating a notification to be received at mobiledevice 110 confirming the assignment and/or including data required forcorresponding access to be permitted.

In some instances, a resource is at least partly controlled, by aclient. The resource may be accessed at a particular location orstructure, and a variety of client devices may be present at thelocation so as to facilitate usage of an access right. Exemplary clientdevices can include client agent device 170, which can be one operatedby a client agent 175 (e.g., a human client agent), a client register160 (e.g., which can operate independently of an agent and/or can beconnected to or include a device that, while in a locked mode, canimpede resource access, such as a turnstile) and client point device 165(e.g., which can operate independently of an agent and/or can bepositioned at or around the resource-associated location. For example,in some instances client agent device 170 can be operated by an agent ata location for a resource that is an event (“event resource”) takingplace at the location. In this example, client agent device 170 is usedby an agent that is manning an entrance to the location (e.g., which caninclude, for example, a location of a structure or a geographic region)or a part thereof; client register 160 can be or can be connected to aturnstile, gate or lockable door that is positioned along a perimeter orentrance to a resource-associated location or part thereof; and clientpoint device 165 can be an electronic device positioned at or within aresource-associated location.

In some instances, mobile device 110 performs particular functions upondetecting a client device and/or the contrary. For example, mobiledevice 110 may locally retrieve or request (e.g., from an externalsource) an access-enabling code. The access-enabling code can betransmitted to the client device or a remote server (e.g., a serverhosting access management system 185) for evaluation and/or can belocally evaluated. The evaluation can include, for example, confirmingthat the access-enabling code has a particular characteristic or format(e.g., generally or one characteristic corresponding to a particularresource or type of access), matches one in an access-enabling code datastore and/or has not been previously redeemed. A result of theevaluation can be locally displayed at an evaluating device, can controla device component (e.g., a physical access control module), and/or canbe transmitted to another device, such as mobile device 110.

In some instances, user 105 can use multiple mobile devices 110 toperform various operations (e.g., using one device to request an accessright and another to interact with client devices). Some instances ofmobile device 110, access management system 185, intermediate system150, client agent device 170, client register 160 and/or client pointdevice 165 can include a portable electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer or smart wearable device) or anon-portable electronic device (e.g., one or more desktop computers,servers and/or processors).

In exemplary embodiments, access rights can be represented in datamaintained at a client device or at access management system 185. Forexample, a database or data store include a list of identifiers for eachuser or user device having an assigned access right for a resource orassociating an identifier for each user or user device with anidentifier of a particular access right. In some instances, indicia canbe transmitted to a user device that indicates that an access right isavailed. In various instances, it may be permitted or prohibited for theindicia to be transferred. The indicia may be provided as part of anelectronic or physical object (e.g., a right to access an event) orindependently. The indicia may include an access-enabling code.

In some instances, access management system 185 communicates with one ormore intermediate systems 150, each of which may be controlled by adifferent entity as compared to an entity controlling access managementsystem 185. For example, access management system 185 may assign accessrights to intermediate systems 150 (e.g., upon acceptance of terms).Intermediate system 150 can then collect data pertaining to the assignedaccess rights and/or a corresponding event, can format and/or edit thedata, generate a notification of availability of the access rights thatincludes the formatted and/or edited data and facilitate presentation ofthe notification at a mobile device 110. When intermediate system 150receives a communication from the mobile device 110 indicative of anaccess-right request, intermediate system 150 can facilitate assignment(or reassignment) of an access right to the user (e.g., by transmittingrelevant information to access management system 185 identifying theuser and/or user device and/or by transmitting relevant information tomobile device 110 pertaining to the access right).

A resource can include one managed or provided by a client, such as aperforming entity or an entity operating a venue. A mobile device 110can transmit data corresponding to the access right (e.g., anaccess-enabling code) to a client device upon, for example, detectingthe client device, detecting that a location of the mobile device 110 iswithin a prescribed geographical region, or detecting particular input.The receiving client device may include, for example, a client agentdevice 170 operated at an entrance of a defined geographical location ora client register 160 that includes or is attached to a lockingturnstile. The client device can then analyze the code to confirm itsvalidity and applicability for a particular resource and/or access type,and admittance to the event can be accordingly permitted. For example, aturnstile may change from a locked to an unlocked mode upon confirmationof the code's validity and applicability.

Each of the depicted devices and/or systems may include a software agentor application (“app”) that, when executed, performs one or more actionsas described herein. In some instances, a software agent or app on onedevice is, at least in part, complementary to a software agent or app onanother device (e.g., such that a software agent or app on mobile device110 is, at least in part, complementary to at least part of one onaccess management system 185 and/or a client device; and/or such that asoftware agent or app on intermediate system 150 is, at least in part,complementary to at least part of one on access management system 185).

In some instances, a network in the one or more networks 155 can includean open network, such as the Internet, personal area network, local areanetwork (LAN), campus area network (CAN), metropolitan area network(MAN), wide area network (WAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), aprivate network, such as an intranet, extranet, or other backbone. Insome instances, a network in the one or more networks 155 includes ashort-range communication channel, such as Bluetooth or Bluetooth LowEnergy channel. Communicating using a short-range communication such asBLE channel can provide advantages such as consuming less power, beingable to communicate across moderate distances, being able to detectlevels of proximity, achieving high-level security based on encryptionand short ranges, and not requiring pairing for inter-devicecommunications.

In one embodiment, communications between two or more systems and/ordevices can be achieved by a secure communications protocol, such assecure sockets layer (SSL), transport layer security (TLS). In addition,data and/or transactional details may be encrypted based on anyconvenient, known, or to be developed manner, such as, but not limitedto, DES, Triple DES, RSA, Blowfish, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES),CAST-128, CAST-256, Decorrelated Fast Cipher (DFC), Tiny EncryptionAlgorithm (TEA), eXtended TEA (XTEA), Corrected Block TEA (XXTEA),and/or RCS, etc.

It will be appreciated that, while a variety of devices and systems areshown in FIG. 1, in some instances, resource management system 100 caninclude fewer devices and/or systems. Further, some systems and/ordevices can be combined. For example, a client agent device 170 may alsoserve as an access management system 185 or intermediate system 150 soas to as to facilitate assignment of access rights.

As described in further detail herein, an interaction between mobiledevice 110 and a client device (e.g., client agent device 170, clientregister 160 or client point device 165) can facilitate, for example,verification that user 105 has a valid and applicable access right,obtaining an assignment of an access right, and/or obtaining anassignment of an upgraded access right.

In addition, mobile device 110-2, which is operated by user 125-2, mayinclude a user device that is located at a stadium or concert hallduring an event. Mobile device 110-2 may directly interact with a clientdevice (e.g., client agent device 170, client register 160 or clientpoint device 165), which is also located at the stadium or concert hallduring the event. As such, the access management system 185 may beupdated or accessed by mobile device 110-2 via the client agent device170. For example, mobile device 110-2 may communicate with the clientagent device 170 over a short-range communication channel 190, such asBluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy channel, Near Field Communication(NFC), Wi-Fi, RFID, Zigbee, ANT, etc. Communicating using a short-rangecommunication such as BLE channel can provide advantages such asconsuming less power, being able to communicate across moderatedistances, being able to detect levels of proximity, achievinghigh-level security based on encryption and short ranges, and notrequiring pairing for inter-device communications. After the short-rangecommunication link 190 is established, mobile device 110-2 maycommunicate with the access management system 185 and access the item oritems of resources. That is, while mobile device B is configured tocommunicate over network 155, mobile device 110-2 may communicate withthe access management system 185 via the client agent device 170,instead of the network 155.

It will be appreciated that various parts of system 100 can begeographically separated. It will further be appreciated that system 100can include a different number of various components rather than anumber depicted in FIG. 1. For example, two or more of access assignmentsystems 185; one or more site systems 180; and intermediate system 150may be located in different geographic locations (e.g., differentcities, states or countries).

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of hardware and network connections of aresource access-facilitating interaction system 200 according to anembodiment of the invention. Each of various user devices 210-1, 210-2,210-3, 210-4 and 210-5 can connect, via one or more inter-networkconnection components (e.g., a router 212) and one or more networks 270to a primary assignment management system 214 or a secondary assignmentmanagement system 216-1, 216-2 or 216-3.

Primary assignment management system 214 can be configured to coordinateand/or control initial assignment of access rights. Secondary assignmentmanagement system 216 can be configured to coordinate and/or controlreassignment and/or transfer of access rights (e.g., from one user oruser device to another or from an intermediate agent to a user or userdevice). Such transfer may occur as a result of a sale or fee payment.Secondary assignment management system 216 may also manage transferoffers (e.g., to allow a user to identify a price at which a transferrequest would be granted and to detect if a valid request is received).It will be appreciated that, although primary assignment managementsystem 214 is shown to be separate from each secondary assignmentmanagement system 216, in some instances, an assignment managementsystem may relate to both a primary and secondary channel, and a singledata store or a localized cluster of data stores may include data fromboth channels.

Each of primary access assignment system 214 and secondary accessassignment system 216 can include a web server 218 that processes andresponds to HTTP requests. Web server 218 can retrieve and deliverweb-page data to a user device 210 that, for example, identify aresource, identify a characteristic of each of one or more access rightsfor the resource, include an invitation to request assignment of anaccess right, facilitate establishment or updating of an account, and/oridentify characteristics of one or more assigned access rights. Webserver 218 can be configured to support server-side scripting and/orreceive data from user devices 210, such as data from forms or fileuploads.

In some instances, a web server 218 can be configured to communicatedata about a resource and an indication that access rights for theresource are available. Web server 218 can receive a requestcommunication from a user device 210 that corresponds to a request forinformation about access rights. The request can include one or moreconstraints, which can correspond to (for example) values (e.g., to bematched or to define a range) of particular fields.

A management server 222 can interact with web server 218 to provideindications as to which access rights' are available for assignment,characteristics of access rights and/or what data is needed to assign anaccess right. When requisite information is received (e.g., about a userand/or user device, identifying a final request for one or more accessrights, including payment information, and so on), management server 222can coordinate an assignment of the one or more access rights. Thecoordination can include updating an access-right data store to change astatus of the one or more access rights (e.g., to assigned); toassociate each of the one or more access rights with a user and/or userdevice; to generate or identify one or more access-enabling codes forthe one or more access rights; and/or to facilitate transmissionreflecting the assignment (e.g., and including the one or moreaccess-enabling codes) to a user device.

Management server 222 can query, update and manage an access-right datastore to identify access rights' availability and/or characteristicand/or to reflect a new assignment. The data store can include oneassociated with the particular assignment system. In some instances, thedata store includes incomplete data about access rights for a resource.For example, a data store 224 at and/or used by a secondary accessassignment system 216 may include data about an incomplete subset ofaccess rights that have been allocated for a particular resource. Toillustrate, a client agent may have indicated that an independentintermediary system can (exclusively or non-exclusively) coordinateassignment of a portion of access rights for a resource but not theremainder. A data store 224 may then, for example, selectively includeinformation (e.g., characteristics, statuses and/or assignmentassociations) for access rights in the portion.

Data store 224 or 226 associated with a particular primary or secondaryaccess assignment system can include assignment data for a set of accessrights that are configured to be set by the particular primary orsecondary access assignment system or by another system. For example, arule can indicate that a given access right is to have an availablestatus until a first of a plurality of access assignment systems assignsthe access right. Accordingly, access assignment systems would then needto communicate to alert each other of assignments.

In one instance, management server 222 (or another server in an accessassignment system) sends a communication to a central data managementserver farm 228 reflecting one or more recent assignments. Thecommunication may include an identification of one or more accessrights, an indication that the access right(s) have been assigned, anidentification of a user and/or user device associated with theassignment and/or one or more access-enabling codes generated oridentified to be associated with the assignment. The communication canbe sent, for example, upon assigning the access right(s), as a precursorto assigning the access right(s) (e.g., to confirm availability and/orrequest assignment authorization), at defined times or time intervalsand/or in response to an assignment-update request received from datamanagement server farm 228.

Data management server farm 228 can then update a central data store toreflect the data from the communication. The central data store can bepart of, for example, a network-attached storage 232 and/or astorage-area network 234.

In some instances, a data store 224 or 226 can include a cache, thatincludes data stored based on previous communications with datamanagement server farm 228. For example, data management server farm 228may periodically transmit statuses of a set of access rights (e.g.,those initially configured to be assignable by an access assignmentsystem) or an updated status (e.g., indicating an assignment) of one ormore access rights. As another example, data management server farm 228may transmit statuses upon receiving a request from an access assignmentsystem for statuses and/or authorization to assign one or more accessrights.

An access assignment system may receive statuses less frequently or attimes unaligned with requests received from user devices requestinginformation about access rights and/or assignments. Rather than initiatea central data store query responsive to each user-device request, amanagement server 222 can rely on cached data (e.g., locally cacheddata) to identify availability of one or more access rights, as reflectin webpage data and/or communications responsive to requestcommunications for access-right information. After requisite informationhas been obtained, management server 222 can then communicate with datamanagement server farm 228 to ensure that one or more particular accessrights have remained available for assignment.

In some instances, one or more of primary access assignment system 214and/or a secondary access assignment system 214 need not include a localor system-inclusive data store for tracking access-right statuses,assignments and/or characteristics. Instead, the access assignmentsystem may communicate with a remote and/or central data store (e.g.,network-attached storage 232 or storage-area network 234).

Access management system 120 can include a primary access assignmentsystem 214 and/or a secondary access assignment system 214; datamanagement server farm 228; and/or a central data store (e.g.,network-attached storage 232 or storage-area network 234). Each of oneor more intermediate systems 130 can include a primary access assignmentsystem 214 and/or a secondary access assignment system 214.

Data management server farm 228 may periodically and/or routinely assessa connection with an access assignment system 214. For example, a testcommunication can be sent that is indicative of a request to respond(e.g., with particular data or generally). If a response communicationis not received, if a response communication is not received within adefined time period and/or if a response communication includesparticular data (e.g., reflecting poor data integrity, network speed,processing speed, etc.), data management server farm 228 may reconfigureaccess rights and/or permissions and/or may transmit anothercommunication indicating that assignment rights of the access assignmentsystem are limited (e.g., to prevent the system from assigning accessrights).

It will be appreciated that various parts of system 200 can begeographically separated. For example, two or more of primary accessassignment system 214; one or more of secondary access assignmentsystems 214; and data management server farm 228 may be located indifferent geographic locations (e.g., different cities, states orcountries).

It will further be appreciated that system 200 can include a differentnumber of various components rather than a number depicted in FIG. 2.For example, system 200 can include multiple data management serverfarms 228, central data stores and/or primary access assignment systems214 (e.g., which can be geographically separated, such as being locatedin different cities, states or countries). In some instances, processingmay be split (e.g., according to a load-balancing technique) acrossmultiple data management server farms 228 and/or across multiple accessassignment systems 214. Meanwhile, the farms and/or systems can beconfigured to accept an increased or full load should another farmand/or system be unavailable (e.g., due to maintenance). Data stored ina central data store may also be replicated in geographically separateddata stores.

FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a communication exchange betweencomponents involved in a resource access-facilitating interaction system300 according to an embodiment of the invention. A user device 310 cansend one or more HTTP requests to a web-server system 318, andweb-server system 318 can respond with one or more HTTP responses thatinclude webpage data. The webpage data can include, for example,information about one or more resources, characteristics of a set ofaccess rights for each of the one or more resources, availability of oneor more access rights, an invitation to request an assignment of one ormore access rights and/or indications as to what information is requiredfor an access-right assignment. HTTP requests can includeassignment-request data (e.g., a resource identification, requisiteinformation, and/or an identification of an access-right constraint oraccess right).

Web-server system 318 can include one or more web processors (e.g.,included in one or more server farms, which may be geographicallyseparated) to, for example, map a path component of a URL to web data(e.g., stored in a local file system or generated by a program);retrieve the web data; and/or generate a response communicationincluding the web data. Web processor can further parse communication toidentify input-corresponding data in HTTP requests, such as field valuesrequired for an access-right assignment.

Web-server system 318 can also include a load balancer to distributeprocessing tasks across multiple web processors. For example, HTTPrequests can be distributed to different web processors. Load-balancingtechniques can be configured so as, for example, to distributeprocessing across servers or server farms, decrease a number of hopsbetween a web server and user device, decrease a geographical locationbetween a user device and web server, etc.

Web-server system 318 can further include a RAID component, such as aRAID controller or card. A RAID component can be configured, forexample, to stripe data across multiple drives, distribute parity acrossdrives and/or mirror data across multiple drives. The RAID component canbe configured to improve reliability and increase request-processingspeeds.

Web-server system 318 can include one or more distributed,non-distributed, virtual, non-virtual, local and/or remote data stores.The data stores can include web data, scripts and/or content object(e.g., to be presented as part or web data).

Some HTTP requests include requests for identifications of access-rightcharacteristics and/or availability. To provide web data reflecting suchinformation, web-server system 318 can request the information fromanother server, such as an SQL system 341 (e.g., which may include oneor more servers or one or more server farms).

SQL system 341 can include one or more SQL processors (e.g., included inone or more server farms, which may be geographically separated). SQLprocessors can be configured to query, update and otherwise use one ormore relational data stores. SQL processors can be configured to execute(and, in some instances, generate) code (e.g., SQL code) to query arelational data store.

SQL system 341 can include a database engine, that includes a relationalengine, OLE database and storage engine. A relational engine canprocess, parse, compile, and/or optimize a query and/or makequery-associated calls. The relational engine can identify an OLE DB rowset that identifies the row with columns matching search criteria and/ora ranking value. A storage engine can manage data access and use therowset (e.g., to access tables and indices) to retrieve query-responsivedata from one or more relational databases.

SQL system 341 can include one or more distributed, non-distributed,virtual, non-virtual, local and/or remote relational data stores. Therelational databases can include linked data structures identifying, forexample, resource information, access-right identifications andcharacteristics, access-right statuses and/or assignments, and/or userand/or user account data. Thus, for example, use of the relationalstructures may facilitate identifying, for a particular user, acharacteristic of an assigned access right and information about aresource associated with the access right.

One or more data structures in a relational data structure may reflectwhether particular access rights have been assigned or remain available.This data may be based on data received from a catalog system 342 thatmonitors and tracks statuses of resource access rights. Catalog system342 can include one or more catalog processors (e.g., included in one ormore server farms, which may be geographically separated). Catalogprocessors can be configured to generate status-update requestcommunications to be sent to one or more access assignment systemsand/or intermediate systems and/or to receive status-updatecommunications from one or more access assignment systems and/orintermediate systems. A status-update communication can, for example,identify an access right and/or resource and indicate an assignment ofthe access right. For example, a status-update communication canindicate that a particular access right has been assigned and is thus nolonger available. In some instances, a status-update communicationidentifies assignment details, such as a user, account and/or userdevice associated with an access-right assignment; a time that theassignment was made; and/or a price associated with the assignment.

In some instances, a status update is less explicit. For example, acommunication may identify an access right and/or resource and request afinal authorization of an assignment of the access right. Catalog system342 can then verify that the access right is available for assignment(e.g., and that a request-associated system or entity is authorized tocoordinate the assignment) and can transmit an affirmative response.Such a communication exchange can indicate (in some instances) that theaccess right is assigned and unavailable for other assignment.

In some instances, catalog system 342 can also be integrated with anon-intermediate access assignment system, such that it can directlydetect assignments. For example, an integrated access assignment systemcan coordinate a message exchange with a user device, can query acatalog data store to identify available access rights and canfacilitate or trigger a status-change of an access right to reflect anassignment (e.g., upon having received all required information.

Whether a result of a direct assignment detection or a status updatefrom an intermediate system, a database engine of catalog system 342 canmanage one or more data stores so as to indicate a current status ofeach of a set of access rights for a resource. The one or more datastores may further identify any assignment constraints. For example,particular access rights may be earmarked so as to only allow one ormore particular intermediate systems to trigger a change to the accessrights' status and/or to assign the access rights.

The database engine can include a digital asset management (DAM) engineto receive, transform (e.g., annotate, reformat, introduce a schema,etc.) status-update communications, and identify other data (e.g., anidentifier of an assigning system and/or a time at which a communicationwas received) to associate with a status update (e.g., an assignment).Therefore, the DAM engine can be configured to prepare storage-updatetasks so as to cause a maintained data store to reflect a recent datachange.

Further, the DAM engine can facilitate handling of data-store queries.For example, a status-request communication or authorization-requestcommunication can be processed to identify variables and/or indices touse to query a data store. A query can then be generated and/or directedto a data store based on the processing. The DAM engine can relay (e.g.,and, potentially, perform intermediate processing to) a query result toa request-associate system.

The database engine can also include a conflict engine, which can beconfigured to access and implement rules indicating how conflicts are tobe handled. For example, catalog system 342 may receive multiplerequests within a time period requesting an assignment authorization (ora hold) for a particular access right. A rule may indicate that a firstrequest is to receive priority, that a request associated with a morehighly prioritized requesting system (e.g., intermediate system) is tobe prioritized, that a request associated with a relatively high (orlow) quantity of access rights identified in the request for potentialassignment are to be prioritized, etc.

The database engine can further include a storage engine configured tomanage data access and/or data updates (e.g., modifying existing data oradding new data). The data managed by and/or accessible to the storageengine can be included in one or more data stores. The data stores caninclude, for example, distributed, non-distributed, virtual,non-virtual, local and/or remote data stores. The data stores caninclude, for example, a relational, non-relational, object, non-object,document and/or non-document data store. Part or all of a data store caninclude a shadow data store, that shadows data from another data store.Part or all of a data store can include an authoritative data store thatis (e.g., directly and/or immediately) updated with access-rightassignment changes (e.g., such that a primary or secondary accessassignment system updates the data store as part of an access-rightassignment process, rather than sending a post-hoc status-updatecommunication reflecting the assignment). In some instances, a datastore an authoritative data store identifies a status for each of a set(e.g., or all) of access rights for a given resource. Should there beany inconsistency between an authoritative data store and another datastore (e.g., at an intermediate system), system 300 can be configuredsuch that the authoritative data store is controlling.

System 300 can further include a replication system 343. Replicationsystem 343 can include one or more replication processors configured toidentify new or modified data, to identify one or more data storesand/or location at which to store the new or modified data and/or tocoordinate replication of the data. In some instances, one or more ofthese identifications and/or coordination can be performed using areplication rule. For example, a replication rule may indicate thatreplication is to be performed in a manner biased towards storingreplicated data at a data store geographically separated from anotherdata store storing the data.

A data duplicator can be configured to read stored data and generate oneor more write commands so as to store the data at a different datastore. A controller can manage transmitting write commands appropriatelyso as to facilitate storing replicated data at identified data stores.Further, a controller can manage data stores, such as a distributedmemory or distributed shared memory, to ensure that a currently activeset of data stores includes a target number of replications of data.

Accordingly, web-server system 318 can interact with user device 310 toidentify available access rights and to collect information needed toassign an access right. Web-server system 318 can interact with SQLsystem 341 so as to retrieve data about particular resources and/oraccess rights so as to configure web data (e.g., via dynamic webpages orscripts) to reflect accurate or semi-accurate information and/orstatuses. SQL system 341 can use relational data stores to quicklyprovide such data. Meanwhile, catalog system 342 may manage one or morenon-relational and/or more comprehensive data stores may be tasked withmore reliably and quickly tracking access-right statuses andassignments. The tracking may include receiving status updates (e.g.,via a push or pull protocol) from one or more intermediate systemsand/or by detecting assignment updates from non-intermediate systems,such as an integrated access assignment system and/or SQL system 341.Catalog system 342 may provide condensed status updates (e.g.,reflecting a binary indication as to whether an access right isavailable) to SQL system 341 periodically, at triggered times and/or inresponse to a request from the SQL system. A replication system 343 canfurther ensure that data is replicated at multiple data stores, so as toimprove a reliability and speed of system 300.

It will be appreciated that various parts of system 300 can begeographically separated. For example, each of user device 310,intermediate system 330, web-server system 318, SQL system 341, catalogsystem 342 and replication 343 may be located in different geographiclocations (e.g., different cities, states or countries).

FIG. 4 illustrates example components of a device 400, such as a clientdevice (e.g., client agent device 140, client register 150 and/or clientpoint device 160), an intermediate system (e.g., intermediate system130) and/or an access management system (e.g., access management system120) according to an embodiment of the invention.

The components can include one or more modules that can be installed ondevice 400. Modules can include some or all of the following: a networkinterface module 402 (which can operate in a link layer of a protocolstack), a message processor module 404 (which can operate in an IP layerof a protocol stack), a communications manager module 406 (which canoperate in a transport layer of a protocol stack), a communicationsconfigure module 408 (which can operate in a transport and/or IP layerin a protocol stack), a communications rules provider module 410 (whichcan operate in a transport and/or IP layer in a protocol stack),application modules 412 (which can operate in an application layer of aprotocol stack), a physical access control module 432 and one or moreenvironmental sensors 434.

Network interface module 402 receives and transmits messages via one ormore hardware components that provide a link-layer interconnect. Thehardware component(s) can include, for example, RF antenna 403 or a port(e.g., Ethernet port) and supporting circuitry. In some embodiments,network interface module 402 can be configured to support wirelesscommunication, e.g., using Wi Fi (IEEE 802.11 family standards),Bluetooth® (a family of standards promulgated by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.),BLE, or near-field communication (implementing the ISO/IEC 18092standards or the like).

RF antenna 403 can be configured to convert electric signals into radioand/or magnetic signals (e.g., to radio waves) to transmit to anotherdevice and/or to receive radio and/or magnetic signals and convert themto electric signals. RF antenna 403 can be tuned to operate within aparticular frequency band. In some instances, a device includes multipleantennas, and the antennas can be, for example, physically separated. Insome instances, antennas differ with respect to radiation patterns,polarizations, take-off angle gain and/or tuning bands. RF interfacemodule 402 can include one or more phase shifters, filters, attenuators,amplifiers, switches and/or other components to demodulate receivedsignals, coordinate signal transmission and/or facilitate high-qualitysignal transmission and receipt.

In some instances, network interface module 402 includes a virtualnetwork interface, so as to enable the device to utilize an intermediatedevice for signal transmission or reception. For example, networkinterface module 402 can include VPN software.

Network interface module 402 and one or more antennas 403 can beconfigured to transmit and receive signals over one or more connectiontypes. For example, network interface module 402 and one or moreantennas 403 can be configured to transmit and receive WiFi signals,cellular signals, Bluetooth signals, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals,Zigbee signals, or Near-Field Communication (NFC) signals.

Message processor module 404 can coordinate communication with otherelectronic devices or systems, such as one or more servers or a userdevice. In one instance, message processor module 404 is able tocommunicate using a plurality of protocols (e.g., any known, futureand/or convenient protocol such as, but not limited to, XML, SMS, MMS,and/or email, etc.). Message processor module 404 may further optionallyserialize incoming and/or outgoing messages and facilitate queuing ofincoming and outgoing message traffic.

Message processor module 404 can perform functions of an IP layer in anetwork protocol stack. For example, in some instances, messageprocessor module 404 can format data packets or segments, combine datapacket fragments, fragment data packets and/or identify destinationapplications and/or device addresses. For example, message processormodule 404 can defragment and analyze an incoming message to determinewhether it is to be forwarded to another device and, if so, can addressand fragment the message before sending it to the network interfacemodule 402 to be transmitted. As another example, message processormodule 404 can defragment and analyze an incoming message to identify adestination application that is to receive the message and can thendirect the message (e.g., via a transport layer) to the application.

Communications manager module 406 can implement transport-layerfunctions. For example, communications manager module 406 can identify atransport protocol for an outgoing message (e.g., transmission controlprotocol (TCP) or user diagram protocol (UDP)) and appropriatelyencapsulate the message into transport protocol data units. Messageprocessor module 404 can initiate establishment of connections betweendevices, monitor transmissions failures, control data transmission ratesand monitoring transmission quality. As another example, communicationsmanager module 406 can read a header of an incoming message to identifyan application layer protocol to receive the message's data. The datacan be separated from the header and sent to the appropriateapplication. Message processor module 404 can also monitor the qualityof incoming messages and/or detect out of order incoming packets.

In some instances, characteristics of message-receipt ormessage-transmission quality can be used to identify a health status ofan established communications link. In some instances, communicationsmanager module 406 can be configured to detect signals indicating thehealth status of an established communications link (e.g., a periodicsignal from the other device system, which if received without dropouts,indicates a healthy link).

In some instances, a communication configurer module 408 is provided totrack attributes of another system so as to facilitate establishment ofa communication session. In one embodiment, communication configurermodule 408 further ensures that inter-device communications areconducted in accordance with the identified communication attributesand/or rules. Communication configurer module 408 can maintain anupdated record of the communication attributes of one or more devices orsystems. In one embodiment, communications configurer module 408 ensuresthat communications manager module 406 can deliver the payload providedby message processor module 404 to the destination (e.g., by ensuringthat the correct protocol corresponding to the client system is used).

A communications rules provider module 410 can implement one or morecommunication rules that relate to details of signal transmissions orreceipt. For example, a rule may specify or constrain a protocol to beused, a transmission time, a type of link or connection to be used, adestination device, and/or a number of destination devices. A rule maybe generally applicable or conditionally applicable (e.g., only applyingfor messages corresponding to a particular app, during a particular timeof day, while a device is in a particular geographical region, when ausage of a local device resource exceeds a threshold, etc.). Forexample, a rule can identify a technique for selecting between a set ofpotential destination devices based on attributes of the set ofpotential destination devices as tracked by communication configuremodule 408. To illustrate, a device having a short response latency maybe selected as a destination device. As another example, communicationsrules provider 410 can maintain associations between various devices orsystems and resources. Thus, messages corresponding to particularresources can be selectively transmitted to destinations having accessto such resources.

A variety of application modules 412 can be configured to initiatemessage transmission, process incoming transmissions, facilitateselective granting of resource access, facilitate processing of requestsfor resource access, and/or performing other functions. In the instancedepicted in FIG. 4, application modules 412 include an auto-updatermodule 414, a resource access coordinator module 416, and/or a codeverification module 418.

Auto-updater module 414 automatically updates stored data and/or agentsoftware based on recent changes to resource utilization, availabilityor schedules and/or updates to software or protocols. Such updates canbe pushed from another device (e.g., upon detecting a change in aresource availability or access permit) or can be received in responseto a request sent by device 400. For example, device 400 can transmit asignal to another device that identifies a particular resource, and aresponsive signal can identify availabilities of access to the resource(e.g., available seat reservations for a sporting event or concert). Asanother example, device 400 can transmit a signal that includes anaccess access-enabling code, and a responsive signal can indicatewhether the code is applicable for access of a particular resourceand/or is valid.

In some instances, auto-updater module 414 is configured to enable theagent software to understand new, messages, commands, and/or protocols,based on a system configuration/change initiated on another device.Auto-updater module 414 may also install new or updated software toprovide support and/or enhancements, based on a system configurationchange detected on device 400. System configuration changes that wouldnecessitate changes to the agent software can include, but are notlimited to, a software/hardware upgrade, a security upgrade, a routerconfiguration change, a change in security settings, etc. For example,if auto-updater module 414 determines that a communication link withanother device has been lost for a pre-determined amount of time,auto-updater module 414 can obtain system configuration information tohelp re-establish the communication link. Such information may includenew settings/configurations on one or more hardware devices or new orupgraded software on or connected to device 400. Thus, auto-updatermodule 414 can detect or be informed by other software when there is anew version of agent software with additional functionality and/ordeficiency/bug corrections or when there is a change with respect to thesoftware, hardware, communications channel, etc.), and perform updatesaccordingly.

Based on the newly obtained system configuration for device 400,auto-updater module 414 can cause a new communication link to bere-established with another device. In one embodiment, uponestablishment of the communication link, system configurationinformation about device 400 can also be provided to another device tofacilitate the connection to or downloading of software to device 400.

In one embodiment, when a poor health signal is detected by anotherdevice (e.g., when the health signal is only sporadically received butthe communication link is not necessarily lost), the other device cansend a command to auto-updater module 414 to instruct auto-updatermodule 414 to obtain system configuration information about device 400.The updated system configuration information may be used in an attemptto revive the unhealthy communications link (e.g., by resending aresource request). For example, code can utilize appropriate systemcalls for the operating system to fix or reestablish communications. Byway of example and not limitation, model and driver information isoptionally obtained for routers in the system in order querying them. Byway of further example, if the code determines that a new brand ofrouter has been installed, it can adapt to that change, or to the changein network configuration, or other changes.

Instead or in addition, the host server (e.g., via communicationsmanager 406) can send specific instructions to auto-updater module 414to specify tests or checks to be performed on device 400 to determinethe changes to the system configurations (e.g., by automaticallyperforming or requesting an inventory check of system hardware and/orsoftware). For example, the components involved in the chain of hopsthrough a network can be queried and analyzed. Thus, for example, if anew ISP (Internet service provider) is being used and the managementsystem traffic is being filtered, or a new router was installed and thesoftware needs to change its configuration, or if someone made a changeto the operating system that affects port the management system is usingto communicate, the management system (or operator) can communicate withthe ISP, change it back, or choose from a new available port,respectively.

The specific tests may be necessary to help establish the communicationlink, if, for example, the automatic tests fail to provide sufficientinformation for the communication link to be re-established, ifadditional information is needed about a particular configurationchange, and/or if the client system is not initially supported by theauto-updater module 414, etc.

Auto-updater module 414 can also receive signals identifying updatespertaining to current or future availability of resources and/or accesspermits. Based on the signals, auto-updater module 414 can modify, addto or delete stored data pertaining to resource availabilities, resourceschedules and/or valid access permits. For example, upon receiving anupdate signal, auto-updater 414 can modify data stored in one or moredata stores 422, such as an account data store 424, resourcespecification data store 426, resource status data store 428 and/oraccess-enabling code data store 430.

Account data store 424 can store data for entities, such asadministrators, intermediate-system agents and/or users. The accountdata can include login information (e.g., username and password),identifying information (e.g., name, residential address, phone number,email address, age and/or gender), professional information (e.g.,occupation, affiliation and/or professional position), preferences(e.g., regarding event types, performers, seating areas, and/or resourcetypes), purchase data (e.g., reflecting dates, prices and/or items ofpast purchases) and/or payment data (e.g., credit card number andexpiration date or payment account information). The account data canalso or alternatively include technical data, such a particular entitycan be associated with one or more device types, IP addresses, browseridentifier and/or operating system identifier).

Resource specification data store 426 can store specification datacharacterizing each of one or more resources. For example, specificationdata for a resource can include a processing power, available memory,operating system, compatibility, device type, processor usage, powerstatus, device model, number of processor cores, types of memories, dateand time of availability, a performing entity, a venue of the eventand/or a set of seats (e.g., a chart or list). Specification data canfurther identify, for example, a cost for each of one or more accessrights.

Resource status data store 428 can store status data reflecting whichresources are available (or unavailable), thereby indicating whichresources have one or more open assignments. In some instances, thestatus data can include schedule information about when a resource isavailable. Status data can include information identifying an entity whorequested, reserved or was assigned a resource. In some instances,status information can indicate that a resource is being held orreserved and may identify an entity associated with the hold or reserveand/or a time at which the hold or reservation will be released.

Access-enabling code data store 430 can store access-enabling code datathat includes one or more codes and/or other information that can beused to indicate that an entity is authorized to use, have or receive aresource. An access-enabling code can include, for example, a numericstring, an alphanumeric string, a text string, a 1-dimensional code, a2-dimensional code, a barcode, a quick response (QR) code, an image, astatic code and/or a temporally dynamic code. An access-enabling codecan be, for example, unique across all instances, resource types and/orentities. For example, access-enabling codes provided in association fortickets to a particular event can be unique relative to each other. Insome instances, at least part of a code identifies a resource orspecification of a resource. For example, for a ticket to a concert,various portions of a code may reflect: a performing entity, resourcelocation, date, section and access-permitted location identifier.

One or more of data stores 424, 426, 428, and 430 can be a relationaldata store, such that elements in one data store can be referencedwithin another data store. For example, resource status data store 428can associate an identifier of a particular ticket with an identifier ofa particular entity. Additional information about the entity can then beretrieved by looking up the entity identifier in account data store 424.

Updates to data stores 424, 426, 428, and 430 facilitated and/orinitiated by auto-updater module 414 can improve cross-device dataconsistency. Resource access coordinator module 416 can coordinateresource access by, for example, generating and distributingidentifications of resource availabilities; processing requests forresource access; handling competing requests for resource access; and/orreceiving and responding to resource-offering objectives.

FIG. 5 illustrates example components of resource access coordinatormodule 416 that may operate, at least in part, at an access managementsystem (e.g., access management system) according to an embodiment ofthe invention. A resource specification engine 502 can identify one ormore available resources. For example, resource specification engine 502can detect input that identifies a current or future availability of anew resource.

Resource specification engine 502 can identify one or morespecifications of each of one or more resources. A specification caninclude an availability time period. For example, resource specificationengine 502 can determine that a resource is available, for example, at aparticular date and time (e.g., as identified based on input), for atime period (e.g., a start to end time), as identified in the input,and/or from a time of initial identification until another inputindicating that the resource is unavailable is detected. A specificationcan also or alternatively include a location (e.g., a geographiclocation and/or venue) of the resource. A specification can also oralternatively include one or more parties associated with the resource(e.g., performing acts or teams). Resource specification engine 502 canstore the specifications in association with an identifier of theresource in resource specifications data store 426.

A resource-access allocation engine 504 can allocate access rights forindividual resources. An access right can serve to provide an associatedentity with the right or a priority to access a resource. Because (forexample) association of an access right with an entity can, in someinstances, be conditioned on fee payment or authorization thereof, anallocated access right can be initially unassociated with particularentities (e.g., users). For example, an allocated right can correspondto one or more access characteristics, such as an processor identifier,a usage time, a memory allocation, a geographic location (e.g., sectionor seat identifier), and/or a fee. For an allocated access right,resource-access allocation engine 504 can store an identifier of theright in resource statuses data store 428 in association with anidentifier for the resource and an indication that it has not yet beenassigned to a particular entity.

A communication engine 506 can facilitate communicating the availabilityof the resource access rights to users. In some instances, a publisherengine 508 generates a presentation that identifies a resource andindicates that access rights are available. Initially or in response touser interaction with the presentation, the presentation can identifyaccess characteristics about available access rights. The presentationcan include, for example, a chart that identifies available accessrights for an event and corresponding fees. Publisher engine 508 candistribute the presentation via, for example, a website, app page, emailand/or message. The presentation can be further configured to enable auser to request assignments of one or more access rights.

In some instances, an intermediate system coordination engine 510 canfacilitate transmission of information about resource availability(e.g., resource specifications and characteristics of resource-accessrights) to one or more intermediate systems (e.g., by generating one ormore messages that include such information and/or facilitatingpublishing such information via a website or app page). Each of the oneor more intermediate systems can publish information about the resourceand accept requests for resource access. In some instances, intermediatesystem coordination engine 510 identifies different access rights asbeing available to individual intermediate systems to coordinateassignment. For example, access rights for seats in Section 1 may beprovided for a first intermediate system to assign, and access rightsfor seats in Section 2 may be provided to a second intermediate systemto assign.

In some instances, overlapping access rights are made available tomultiple intermediate systems to coordinate assignments. For example,some or all of a first set of resource rights (e.g., corresponding to asection) may be provided to first and second intermediate systems. Insuch instances, intermediate system coordination engine 510 can respondto a communication from a first intermediate system indicating that arequest has been received (e.g., and processed) for an access right inthe set) by sending a notification to one or more other intermediatesystems that indicates that the access right is to be at leasttemporarily (or entirely) made unavailable.

Intermediate system coordination engine 510 can monitor communicationchannels with intermediate systems to track the health and security ofthe channel. For example, a healthy connection can be inferred whenscheduled signals are consistently received. Further, intermediatesystem coordination engine 510 can track configurations of intermediatesystems (e.g., via communications generated at the intermediate systemsvia a software agent that identifies such configurations) so as toinfluence code generation, communication format, and/or provisions oraccess rights.

Thus, either via a presentation facilitated by publisher engine 508(e.g., via a web site or app page) or via communication with anintermediate system, a request for assignment of an access right can bereceived. A request management engine 512 can process the request.Processing the request can include determining whether all otherrequired information has been received, such as user-identifyinginformation (e.g., name), access-right identifying information (e.g.,identifying a resource and/or access-right characteristic) user contactinformation (e.g., address, phone number, and/or email address), and/oruser device information (e.g., type of device, device identifier, and/orIP address).

When all required information has not been received, request managementengine 512 can facilitate collection of the information (e.g., via awebpage, app page or communication to an intermediate system). Requestmanagement engine 512 can also or alternatively collect paymentinformation, determine that payment information has been received,obtain authorization of payment, determine that payment has beenauthorized (e.g., via an intermediate system), collect payment, and/ordetermine that payment has been collected. For example, publisher engine508 may receive a credit card number and expiration date via a webpage,and request management engine 512 can request authorization for anamount of the requested access rights. In some instances, paymentassessments are performed subsequent to at least temporary assignmentsof access rights. In some instances, request management engine 512retrieves data from a user account. For example, publisher engine 508may indicate that a request for an access right has been received whilea user was logged into a particular account. Request management engine512 may then retrieve, for example, contact information, deviceinformation, and/or preferences and/or payment information associatedwith the account from account data store 424.

In some instances, request management engine 512 prioritizes requests,such as requests for overlapping, similar or same access rights (e.g.,requests for access rights associated with a same section) receivedwithin a defined time period. The prioritization can be based on, forexample, times at which requests were received (e.g., prioritizingearlier requests), a request parameter (e.g., prioritizing requests fora higher or lower number of access rights above others), whetherrequests were received via an intermediate system (e.g., prioritizingsuch requests lower than others), intermediate systems associated withrequests (e.g., based on rankings of the systems), whether requests wereassociated with users having established accounts, and/or whetherrequests were associated with inputs indicative of a bot initiating therequest (e.g., shorter inter-click intervals, failed CAPTCHA tests,purchase history departing from a human profile).

Upon determining that required information has been received andrequest-processing conditions have been met, request management engine512 can forward appropriate request information to a resource schedulingengine 514. For a request, resource scheduling engine 514 can queryresource status data store 428 to identify access rights matchingparameters of the request.

In some instances, the request has an access-right specificity matchinga specificity at which access rights are assigned. In some instances,the request is less specific, and resource scheduling engine 514 canthen facilitate an identification of particular rights to assign. Forexample, request management engine 512 can facilitate a communicationexchange by which access right characteristics matching the request areidentified, and a user is allowed to select particular rights. Asanother example, request management engine 512 can itself select fromamongst matching access rights based on a defined criterion (e.g., bestsummed or averaged access-right ranking, pseudo-random selection, or aselection technique identified based on user input).

Upon identifying appropriately specific access rights, resourcescheduling engine 514 can update resource status data store 428 so as toplace the access right(s) on hold (e.g., while obtaining paymentauthorization and/or user confirmation) and/or to change a status of theaccess right(s) to indicate that they have been assigned (e.g.,immediately, upon receiving payment authorization or upon receiving userconfirmation). Such assignment indication may associate informationabout the user (e.g., user name, device information, phone number and/oremail address) and/or assignment process (e.g., identifier of anyintermediate system and/or assignment date and time) with an identifierof the access right(s).

For individual assigned access rights, an encoding engine 516 cangenerate an access-enabling code. The access-enabling code can include,for example, an alphanumeric string, a text string, a number, a graphic,a barcode (e.g., a 1-dimensional or 2-dimensional barcode), a staticcode, a dynamic code (e.g., with a feature depending on a current time,current location or communication) and/or a technique for generating thecode (e.g., whereby part of the code may be static and part of the codemay be determined using the technique). The code may be unique acrossall access rights, all access rights for a given resource, all accessrights associated with a given location, all access rights associatedwith a given time period, all resources and/or all users. In someinstances, at least part of the code is determined based on or isthereafter associated with an identifier of a user, user deviceinformation, a resource specification and/or an access rightcharacteristic.

In various embodiments, the code may be generated prior to allocatingaccess rights (e.g., such that each of some or all allocated accessrights are associated with an access-enabling code), prior to or whileassigning one or more access right(s) responsive to a request (e.g.,such that each of some or all assigned access rights are associated withan access-enabling code), at a prescribed time, and/or when the deviceis at a defined location and/or in response to user input. The code maybe stored at or availed to a user device. In various instances, at theuser device, an access-enabling code may be provided in a manner suchthat it is visibly available for user inspection or concealed from auser. For example, a ticket document with a barcode may be transmittedto a user device, or an app on the user device can transmit a requestwith a device identifier for a dynamic code.

Encoding engine 516 can store the access-enabling codes inaccess-enabling code data store 430. Encoding engine 516 can also oralternatively store an indication in account data store 424 that theaccess right(s) have been assigned to the user. It will again beappreciated that data stores 424, 426, 428, and 430 can be relationaland/or linked, such that, for example, an identification of anassignment can be used to identify one or more access rights, associatedaccess-enabling code(s) and/or resource specifications.

Resource scheduling engine 514 can facilitate one or more transmissionsof data pertaining to one or more assigned access rights to a device ofa user associated with the assignment. The data can include anindication that access rights have been assigned and/or details as towhich rights have been assigned. The data can also or alternativelyinclude access-enabling codes associated with assigned access rights.

While FIG. 5 depicts components of resource access coordinator module516 that may be present on an access management system 120, it will beappreciated that similar or complementary engines may be present onother systems. For example, a communication engine on a user device canbe configured to display presentations identifying access rightavailability, and a request management engine on a user device can beconfigured to translate inputs into access-right requests to send to anintermediate system or access management system.

Returning to FIG. 4, code verification module 418 (e.g., at a userdevice or client device) can analyze data to determine whether anaccess-enabling code is generally valid and/or valid for a particularcircumstance. The access-enabling code can include one that is receivedat or detected by device 400. The analysis can include, for example,determining whether all or part of the access-enabling code matches onestored in access-enabling code data store 430 or part thereof, whetherthe access-enabling code has previously been applied, whether all orpart of the access-enabling code is consistent with itself or otherinformation (e.g., one or more particular resource specifications, acurrent time and/or a detected location) as determined based on aconsistency analysis and/or whether all or part of the access-enablingcode has an acceptable format.

For example, access-enabling code data store 430 can be organized in amanner such that access-enabling codes for a particular resource, date,resource group, client, etc. can be queried to determine whether anysuch access-enabling codes correspond to (e.g. match) one beingevaluated, which may indicate that the code is verified. Additionalinformation associated with the code may also or alternatively beevaluated. For example, the additional information can indicate whetherthe code is currently valid or expired (e.g., due to a previous use ofthe code).

As another example, a portion of an access-enabling code can include anidentifier of a user device or user account, and code verificationmodule 418 can determine whether the code-identified device or accountmatches that detected as part of the evaluation. To illustrate, device400 can be a client device that electronically receives a communicationwith an access-enabling code from a user device. The communication canfurther include a device identifier that identifies, for example, thatthe user device is a particular type of smartphone. Code verificationmodule 418 can then determine whether device-identifying information inthe code is consistent with the identified type of smartphone.

As yet another example, code verification module 418 can identify a codeformat rule that specifies a format that valid codes are to have. Toillustrate, the code format rule may identify a number of elements thatare to be included in the code or a pattern that is to be present in thecode. Code verification module 418 can then determine that a code is notvalid if it does not conform to the format.

Verification of an access-enabling code can indicate that access to aresource is to be granted. Conversely, determining that a code is notverified can indicate that access to a resource is to be limited orprevented. In some instances, a presentation is generated (e.g., andpresented) that indicates whether access is to be granted and/or aresult of a verification analysis. In some instances, access grantingand/or limiting is automatically affected. For example, upon a codeverification, a user device and/or user may be automatically permittedto access a particular resource. Accessing a resource may include, forexample, using a computational resource, possessing an item, receiving aservice, entering a geographical area, and/or attending an event (e.g.,generally or at a particular location).

Verification of an access-enabling code can further trigger amodification to access-enabling code data store 430. For example, a codethat has been verified can be removed from the data store or associatedwith a new status. This modification may limit attempts to use a samecode multiple times for resource access.

A combination of modules 414, 416, 418 comprise a secure addressableendpoint agent 420 that acts as an adapter and enables cross-deviceinterfacing in a secure and reliable fashion so as to facilitateallocation of access-enabling codes and coordinate resource access.Secure addressable endpoint agent 420 can further generate a healthsignal that is transmitted to another device for monitoring of a statusof a communication channel. The health signal is optionally a shortmessage of a few bytes or many bytes in length that may be transmittedon a frequent basis (e.g., every few milliseconds or seconds). Acommunications manager 406 on the receiving device can then monitors thehealth signal provided by the agent to ensure that the communicationlink between the host server and device 400 is still operational.

In some instances, device 400 can include (or can be in communicationwith) a physical access control 432. Physical access control 432 caninclude a gating component that can be configured to provide a physicalbarrier towards accessing a resource. For example, physical accesscontrol 432 can include a turnstile or a packaging lock.

Physical access control 432 can be configured such that it can switchbetween two modes, which differ in terms of a degree to which useraccess to a resource is permitted. For example, a turnstile may have alocked mode that prevents movement of an arm of the turnstile and anunlocked mode that allows the arm to be rotated. In some instances, adefault mode is the mode that is more limiting in terms of access.

Physical access control 432 can switch its mode in response to receivingparticular results from code verification module 418. For example, uponreceiving an indication that a code has been verified, physical accesscontrol 432 can switch from a locked mode to an unlocked mode. It mayremain in the changed state for a defined period of time or until anaction or event is detected (e.g., rotation of an arm).

Device 400 can also include one or more environmental sensors 434.Measurements from the sensor can processed by one or more applicationmodules. Environmental sensor(s) 434 can include a global positioningsystem (GPS) receiver 435 that can receive signals from one or more GPSsatellites. A GPS chipset can use the signals to estimate a location ofdevice 400 (e.g., a longitude and latitude of device 400). The estimatedlocation can be used to identify a particular resource (e.g., one beingoffered at or near the location at a current or near-term time). Theidentification of the particular resource can be used, for example, toidentify a corresponding (e.g., user-associated) access-enabling code orto evaluate an access-enabling code (e.g., to determine whether itcorresponds to a resource associated with the location).

The estimated location can further or alternatively be used to determinewhen to perform a particular function. For example, at a user device,detecting that the device is in or has entered a particular geographicalregion (e.g., is within a threshold distance from a geofence perimeteror entrance gate) can cause the device to retrieve or request anaccess-enabling code, conduct a verification analysis of the code and/ortransmit the code to a client device.

It will be appreciated that environmental sensor(s) 434 can include oneor more additional or alternative sensors aside from GPS receiver 435.For example, a location of device 400 can be estimated based on signalsreceived by another receive from different sources (e.g., base stations,client point devices or Wi Fi access points). As another example, anaccelerometer and/or gyroscope can be provided. Data from these sensorscan be used to infer when a user is attempting to present anaccess-enabling code for evaluation.

It will also be appreciated that the components and/or engines depictedin figures herein are illustrative, and a device need not include eachdepicted component and/or engine and/or can include one or moreadditional components and/or engines. For example, a device can alsoinclude a user interface, which may include a touch sensor, keyboard,display, camera and/or speakers. As another example, a device caninclude a power component, which can distribute power to components ofthe device. The power component can include a battery and/or aconnection component for connecting to a power source. As yet anotherexample, a module in the application layer can include an operatingsystem. As still another example, an application-layer control processormodule can provide message processing for messages received from anotherdevice. The message processing can include classifying the message androuting it to the appropriate module. To illustrate, the message can beclassified as a request for resource access or for an access-enablingcode, an update message or an indication that a code has been redeemedor verified. The message processing module can further convert a messageor command into a format that can interoperate with a target module.

It will further be appreciated that the components, modules and/oragents could be implemented in one or more instances of software. Thefunctionalities described herein need not be implemented in separatemodules, for example, one or more functions can be implemented in onesoftware instance and/or one software/hardware combination. Othercombinations are similarly be contemplated.

Further yet, it will be appreciated that a storage medium (e.g., usingmagnetic storage media, flash memory, other semiconductor memory (e.g.,DRAM, SRAM), or any other non-transitory storage medium, or acombination of media, and can include volatile and/or non-volatilemedia) can be used to store program code for each of one or more of thecomponents, modules and/or engines depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 and/or tostore any or all data stores depicted in FIG. 4 or described withreference to FIGS. 4 and/or 5. Any device or system disclosed herein caninclude a processing subsystem for executing the code. The processingsystem can be implemented as one or more integrated circuits, e.g., oneor more single-core or multi-core microprocessors or microcontrollers,examples of which are known in the art.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a process 600 forassigning access rights for resources. Process 600 can be performed byan access management system, such as access management system 120.Process 600 begins at block 605 where resource specification engine 502identifies one or more specifications for a resource. The specificationscan include, for example, a time at which the resource is to beavailable, a location of the resource, a capacity of the resourcesand/or one or more entities (e.g., performing entities) associated withthe resource.

At block 610, resource-access allocation engine 504 allocates a set ofaccess rights for the resource. In some instances, each of at least someof the access rights corresponds to a different access parameter, suchas a different location (e.g., seat) assignment. Upon allocation, eachof some or all of the access rights may have a status as available. Asubset of the set of access rights can be immediately (or at a definedtime) assigned or reserved according to a base assignment or reservationrule (e.g., assigning particular access rights to particular entities,who may be involved in or related to provision of the resource and/orwho have requested or been assigned a set of related access rights.

At block 615, communication engine 506 transmits the resourcespecifications and data about the access rights. The transmission canoccur in one or more transmissions. The transmission can be to, forexample, one or more user devices and/or intermediate systems. In someinstances, a notification including the specifications and access-rightdata is transmitted, and in some instances, a notification can begenerated at a receiving device based on the specifications andaccess-right data. The notification can include, for example, a websitethat identifies a resource (via, at least in part, its specifications)and indicates that access rights for the resource are available forassignment. The notification can include an option to request assignmentof one or more access rights.

At block 620, request management engine 512 receives a request for oneor more access rights to be assigned to a user. The request can, forexample, identify particular access rights and/or access parameters. Therequest can include or be accompanied by other information, such asidentifying information. In some instances, the access management systemcan use at least some of such information to determine whether a fee forthe access rights has been authorized. In some instances, the request isreceived via an intermediate system that has already handled suchauthorization.

At block 625, resource scheduling engine 514 assigns the requested oneor more access rights to the user. The assignment can be conditioned onreceipt of all required information, confirmation that the accessright(s) have remained available for assignment, determining using datacorresponding to the request that a bot-detection condition is notsatisfied, fee provision and/or other defined conditions. Assignment ofthe access right(s) can include associating an identifier of each of theone or more rights with an identifier of a user and/or assignment and/orchanging a status of the access right(s) to assigned. Assignment of theaccess right(s) can result in impeding or preventing other users fromrequesting the access right(s), being assigned the access right(s)and/or being notified that the access right(s) are available forassignment. Assignment of the access right(s) can, in some instances,trigger transmission of one or more communications to, for example, oneor more intermediate systems identifying the access right(s) andindicating that they have been assigned and/or with an instruction tocease offering the access rights.

At block 630, encoding engine 516 generates an access-enabling code foreach of the one or more access rights. The code can be generated, forexample, as part of the assignment, as part of the allocation orsubsequent to the assignment (e.g., upon detecting that a user isrequesting access to the resource). Generating an access-enabling codecan include applying a code-generation technique, such on one thatgenerates a code based on a characteristic of a user, user device,current time, access right, resource, intermediate system or othervariable. The access-enabling code can include a static code that willnot change after it has been initially generated or a dynamic code thatchanges in time (e.g., such that block 630 can be repeated at varioustime points).

At block 635, communication engine 506 transmits a confirmation of theassignment and the access-enabling code(s) in one or more transmissions.The transmission(s) may be sent to one or more devices, such as a userdevice having initiated the request from block 620, a remote server oran intermediate system having relayed the request from block 620.

Referring to FIG. 7A, an embodiment of a site system 180 is shown inrelation to mobile devices 724-n, Network Attached Storage (NAS) 750,site network 716 and the Internet 728. In some embodiments, forattendees of a live event or concert, site network 716 and site system180 provide content, services and/or interactive engagement using mobiledevices 724. Connections to site system 180 and site network 716 can beestablished by mobile devices 724 connecting to access points 720.Mobile devices 724 can be a type of end user device 110 that isportable, e.g., smartphones, mobile phones, tablets, and/or othersimilar devices.

Site network 716 can have access to content (information aboutattendees, videos, pictures, music, trivia information, etc.) held byNAS 750. Additionally, as described herein, content can be gathered fromattendees both before and during the event. By connecting to sitenetwork 716, mobile device 724 can send content for use by site system180 or display content received from NAS 750.

Referring to FIG. 7B, another embodiment of a site system 180 is shownin relation to mobile devices 724-n, Network Attached Storage (NAS) 750,site network 716 and the Internet 728, in an embodiment. FIG. 7Badditionally includes phone switch 740. In some embodiments, phoneswitch 740 can be a private cellular base station configured to spoofthe operation of conventionally operated base stations. Using phoneswitch 740 at an event site allows site system 180 to provide additionaltypes of interactions with mobile devices 724. For example, without anysetup or configuration to accept communications from site controller712, phone switch 740 can cause connected mobile devices 724 to ringand, when answered, have an audio or video call be established. Whenused with other embodiments described herein, phone switch 740 canprovide additional interactions. For example, some embodiments describedherein use different capabilities of mobile devices 724 to cause masssounds and/or establish communications with two or more people. Bycausing phones to ring and by establishing cellular calls, phone switchcan provide additional capabilities to these approaches.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of user device 110 according to anembodiment. User device 110 includes a handheld controller 810 that canbe sized and shaped so as enable the controller and user device 110 in ahand. Handheld controller 810 can include one or more user-deviceprocessors that can be configured to perform actions as describedherein. In some instances, such actions can include retrieving andimplementing a rule, retrieving an access-enabling code, generating acommunication (e.g., including an access-enabling code) to betransmitted to another device (e.g., a nearby client-associated device,a remote device, a central server, a web server, etc.), processing areceived communication (e.g., to perform an action in accordance with aninstruction in the communication, to generate a presentation based ondata in the communication, or to generate a response communication thatincludes data requested in the received communication) and so on.

Handheld controller 810 can communicate with a storage controller 820 soas to facilitate local storage and/or retrieval of data. It will beappreciated that handheld controller 810 can further facilitate storageand/or retrieval of data at a remote source via generation ofcommunications including the data (e.g., with a storage instruction)and/or requesting particular data.

Storage controller 820 can be configured to write and/or read data fromone or more data stores, such as an application storage 822 and/or auser storage 824. The one or more data stores can include, for example,a random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM),read-only memory (ROM), flash-ROM, cache, storage chip, and/or removablememory. Application storage 822 can include various types of applicationdata for each of one or more applications loaded (e.g., downloaded orpre-installed) onto user device 110. For example, application data caninclude application code, settings, profile data, databases, sessiondata, history, cookies and/or cache data. User storage 824 can include,for example, files, documents, images, videos, voice recordings and/oraudio. It will be appreciated that user device 110 can also includeother types of storage and/or stored data, such as code, files and datafor an operating system configured for execution on user device 110.

Handheld controller 810 can also receive and process (e.g., inaccordance with code or instructions generated in correspondence to aparticular application) data from one or more sensors and/or detectionengines. The one or more sensors and/or detection engines can beconfigured to, for example, detect a presence, intensity and/or identifyof (for example) another device (e.g., a nearby device or devicedetectable over a particular type of network, such as a Bluetooth,Bluetooth Low-Energy or Near-Field Communication network); anenvironmental, external stimulus (e.g., temperature, water, light,motion or humidity); an internal stimulus (e.g., temperature); a deviceperformance (e.g., processor or memory usage); and/or a networkconnection (e.g., to indicate whether a particular type of connection isavailable, a network strength and/or a network reliability).

FIG. 8 shows several exemplary sensors and detection engines, includinga peer monitor 830, accelerometer 832, gyroscope 834, light sensor 836and location engine 838. Each sensor and/or detection engine can beconfigured to collect a measurement or make a determination, forexample, at routine intervals or times and/or upon receiving acorresponding request (e.g., from a processor executing an applicationcode).

Peer monitor 830 can monitor communications, networks, radio signals,short-range signals, etc., which can be received by a receiver of userdevice 110) Peer monitor 830 can, for example, detect a short-rangecommunication from another device and/or use a network multicast orbroadcast to request identification of nearby devices. Upon or whiledetecting another device, peer monitor 830 can determine an identifier,device type, associated user, network capabilities, operating systemand/or authorization associated with the device. Peer monitor 530 canmaintain and update a data structure to store a location, identifierand/or characteristic of each of one or more nearby user devices.

Accelerometer 832 can be configured to detect a proper acceleration ofuser device 110. The acceleration may include multiple componentsassociated with various axes and/or a total acceleration. Gyroscope 834can be configured to detect one or more orientations (e.g., viadetection of angular velocity) of user device 110. Gyroscope 834 caninclude, for example, one or more spinning wheels or discs, single- ormulti-axis (e.g., three-axis) MEMS-based gyroscopes.

Light sensor 836 can include, for example, a photosensor, such asphotodiode, active-pixel sensor, LED, photoresistor, or other componentconfigured to detect a presence, intensity and/or type of light. In someinstances, the one or more sensors and detection engines can include amotion detector, which can be configured to detect motion. Such motiondetection can include processing data from one or more light sensors(e.g., and performing a temporal and/or differential analysis).

Location engine 838 can be configured to detect (e.g., estimate) alocation of user device 110. For example, location engine 838 can beconfigured to process signals (e.g., a wireless signal, GPS satellitesignal, cell-tower signal, iBeacon, or base-station signal) received atone or more receivers (e.g., a wireless-signal receiver and/or GPSreceiver) from a source (e.g., a GPS satellite, cellular tower or basestation, or WiFi access point) at a defined or identifiable location. Insome instances, location engine 838 can process signals from multiplesources and can estimate a location of user device 110 using atriangulation technique. In some instances, location engine 838 canprocess a single signal and estimate its location as being the same as alocation of a source of the signal.

User device 110 can include a flash 842 and flash controller 846. Flash842 can include a light source, such as (for example), an LED,electronic flash or high-speed flash. Flash controller 846 can beconfigured to control when flash 842 emits light. In some instances, thedetermination includes identifying an ambient light level (e.g., viadata received from light sensor 836) and determining that flash 842 isto emit light in response to a picture- or movie-initiating input whenthe light level is below a defined threshold (e.g., when a setting is inan auto-flash mode). In some additional or alternative instances, thedetermination includes determining that flash 846 is, or is not, to emitlight in accordance with a flash on/off setting. When it is determinedthat flash 846 is to emit light, flash controller 846 can be configuredto control a timing of the light so as to coincide, for example, with atime (or right before) at which a picture or video is taken.

User device 110 can also include an LED 840 and LED controller 844. LEDcontroller 844 can be configured to control when LED 840 emits light.The light emission may be indicative of an event, such as whether amessage has been received, a request has been processed, an initialaccess time has passed, etc.

Flash controller 846 can control whether flash 846 emits light viacontrolling a circuit so as to complete a circuit between a power sourceand flash 846 when flash 842 is to emit light. In some instances, flashcontroller 846 is wired to a shutter mechanism so as to synchronizelight emission and collection of image or video data.

User device 110 can be configured to transmit and/or receive signalsfrom other devices or systems (e.g., over one or more networks, such asnetwork(s) 170). These signals can include wireless signals, andaccordingly user device 110 can include one or more wireless modules 850configured to appropriately facilitate transmission or receipt ofwireless signals of a particular type. Wireless modules 850 can includea Wi-Fi module 852, Bluetooth module 854, near-field communication (NFC)module 856 and/or cellular module 856. Each module can, for example,generate a signal (e.g., which may include transforming a signalgenerated by another component of user device 110 to conform to aparticular protocol and/or to process a signal (e.g., which may includetransforming a signal received from another device to conform with aprotocol used by another component of user device 110).

Wi-Fi module 854 can be configured to generate and/or process radiosignals with a frequency between 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz. Wi-Fimodule 854 can include a wireless network interface card that includescircuitry to facilitate communicating using a particular standard (e.g.,physical and/or link layer standard).

Bluetooth module 854 can be configured to generate and/or process radiosignals with a frequency between 2.4 gigahertz and 2.485 gigahertz. Insome instances, bluetooth module 854 can be configured to generateand/or process Bluetooth low-energy (BLE or BTLE) signals with afrequency between 2.4 gigahertz and 2.485 gigahertz.

NFC module 856 can be configured to generate and/or process radiosignals with a frequency of 13.56 megahertz. NFC module 856 can includean inductor and/or can interact with one or more loop antenna.

Cellular module 858 can be configured to generate and/or processcellular signals at ultra-high frequencies (e.g., between 698 and 2690megahertz). For example, cellular module 858 can be configured togenerate uplink signals and/or to process received downlink signals.

The signals generated by wireless modules 850 can be transmitted to oneor more other devices (or broadcast) by one or more antennas 859. Thesignals processed by wireless modules 850 can include those received byone or more antennas 859. One or more antennas 859 can include, forexample, a monopole antenna, helical antenna, intenna, Planar Inverted-FAntenna (PIFA), modified PIFA, and/or one or more loop antennae.

User device 110 can include various input and output components. Anoutput component can be configured to present output. For example, aspeaker 862 can be configured to present an audio output by convertingan electrical signal into an audio signal. An audio engine 864 caneffect particular audio characteristics, such as a volume,event-to-audio-signal mapping and/or whether an audio signal is to beavoided due to a silencing mode (e.g., a vibrate or do-not-disturb modeset at the device).

Further, a display 866 can be configured to present a visual output byconverting an electrical signal into a light signal. Display 866 mayinclude multiple pixels, each of which may be individually controllable,such that an intensity and/or color of each pixel can be independentlycontrolled. Display 866 can include, for example, an LED- or LCD-baseddisplay.

A graphics engine 868 can determine a mapping of electronic image datato pixel variables on a screen of user device 110. It can further adjustlighting, texture and color characteristics in accordance with, forexample, user settings.

In some instances, display 866 is a touchscreen display (e.g., aresistive or capacitive touchscreen) and is thus both an input and anoutput component. A screen controller 870 can be configured to detectwhether, where and/or how (e.g., a force of) a user touched display 866.The determination may be made based on an analysis of capacitive orresistive data.

An input component can be configured to receive input from a user thatcan be translated into data. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, userdevice 110 can include a microphone 872 that can capture audio data andtransform the audio signals into electrical signals. An audio capturemodule 874 can determine, for example, when an audio signal is to becollected and/or any filter, equalization, noise gate, compressionand/or clipper that is to be applied to the signal.

User device 110 can further include one or more cameras 876, 880, eachof which can be configured to capture visual data (e.g., at a given timeor across an extended time period) and convert the visual data intoelectrical data (e.g., electronic image or video data). In someinstances, user device 110 includes multiple cameras, at least two ofwhich are directed in different and/or substantially oppositedirections. For example, user device 110 can include a rear-facingcamera 876 and a front-facing camera 880.

A camera capture module 878 can control, for example, when a visualstimulus is to be collected (e.g., by controlling a shutter), a durationfor which a visual stimulus is to be collected (e.g., a time that ashutter is to remain open for a picture taking, which may depend on asetting or ambient light levels; and/or a time that a shutter is toremain open for a video taking, which may depend on inputs), a zoom, afocus setting, and so on. When user device 110 includes multiplecameras, camera capture module 878 may further determine which camera(s)is to collect image data (e.g., based on a setting).

FIG. 9 illustrates sample components of an embodiment of site system180, including connections to NAS 750 and access management system 185.Embodiments of site controller 712 use network manager 920 to connectvia access points 720 (using e.g., WiFi 952, Bluetooth 953, NFC 956,Ethernet 958, and/or other network connections) to other networkcomponents, such as site network 716 and mobile devices 724. In someembodiments, site system 280 uses site controller 712 to control aspectsof an event venue. A broad variety of venue features can be controlledby different embodiments, including: permanent lights (e.g., withlighting controller 922), stage lights (e.g., with presentmentcontroller 924), stage display screens (e.g., with stage display(s)controller 912), permanent display screens (e.g., with permanentdisplay(s) controller 914), and the venue sound system (e.g., with thesound system controller 916).

A more detailed view of NAS 750 is shown, including NAS controller 930coupled to user video storage 932, captured video storage 934,preference storage 936, and 3D model 938. Captured video storage 934 canreceive, store and provide user videos received from mobile devices 724.In some embodiments, site controller 712 triggers the automatic captureof images, audio and video from mobile devices 724, such triggeringbeing synchronized to activities in an event. Images captured by thisand similar embodiments can be stored on both the capturing mobiledevice 724 and user video storage 932. In an embodiment, site controller712 can coordinate the transfer of information from mobile devices toNAS 750 (e.g., captured media) with activities taking place during theevent. When interacting with mobile devices 724, some embodiments ofsite controller 712 can provide end user interfaces 926 to enabledifferent types of interaction. For example, as a part of engagementactivities, site controller may offer quizzes and other content to thedevices. Additionally, with respect to location determinations discussedherein, site controller can supplement determined estimates withvoluntarily provided information using end user interfaces 926, storedin a storage that is not shown.

In some embodiments, to guide the performance of different activities,site controller 712 and/or other components may use executable code 938tangibly stored in code storage 939. In some embodiments, siteinformation storage 937 can provide information about the site, e.g.,events, seat maps, attendee information, geographic location ofdestinations (e.g., concessions, bathrooms, exits, etc.), as well as 3Dmodels of site features and structure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating process 1000 for effective queuemanagement using queue protocols. Part or all of process 1000 may beperformed, for example, at an access management system, variouselectronic devices (e.g., a user device), and/or one or more data stores(e.g., data stores associated with the access management system). Itwill be appreciated that performance of process 1000 may be distributed.For example, various servers (e.g., co-located servers or geographicallydispersed servers) may perform different actions in process 1000.

Examples of one or more user devices may include, for example, acomputer, a mobile device, a smart phone, a laptop, a thin clientdevice, a tablet, an electronic kiosk, and other suitable electronicdevices. Further, the access management system can include one or moreservers and/or one or more data stores. The one or more servers and theone or more data stores may or may not be geographically co-located.

At block 1005, the access management system may receive a firstcommunication from a user device associated with a user. The firstcommunication may be received wirelessly or over a wired connection andtransmission of the first communication may occur over one or morenetworks.

In some embodiments, the first communication may include datarepresenting a first request to associate the user with a first accessright to a first resource (e.g., a specific set of data, a seat at avenue or event, or other suitable resources). For example, the user mayexecute an application or access a website using the user device. Theapplication or website may facilitate transmission of the firstcommunication to the access management system. For example, the userdevice may receive an input from the user. The received input maycorrespond to a selection of one or more resources for which an accessright is to be requested. The user device may include data representingthe selected one or more resources for which an access right is to berequested in the first communication.

At block 1010, the access management system may calculate a position(e.g., a stack position in a queue comprised of stacks, a section of thedata structure storing the queue, and the like) for storing anidentifier code corresponding to the first request in a first queue. Insome embodiments, the access management system may generate anidentifier code corresponding to the first request in response toreceiving the first communication and may extract the data representingthe first request. The access management system can store the generatedidentifier code in the first queue associated with the first resource.For example, the identifier code may be stored in the next availablesection or position of the first queue. In other examples, theidentifier code may be stored in one or more positions in the firstqueue. In these examples, the position for storing the identifier codemay be determined based, at least in part, on one or more factors.Examples of factors assessed in determining a position for storing theidentifier code in the first queue may include a priority associatedwith the first request, user, or user device; time of receiving thefirst communication; next available position in the first queue; aclassification of the first request, user, or user device; and othersuitable factors. In some embodiments, the identifier code may begenerated at the user device and included in the first communication. Inother embodiments, the identifier code may be generated at one or moreremote servers.

In some embodiments, the identifier code may uniquely identify the firstrequest from other requests stored in the first queue. For example, theidentifier code may include a string of data uniquely representing theuser or user device or an attribute of the user or user device. Theidentifier may also be stored in one or more data stores associated withthe access management system. For example, a data store may store alookup table that may identify the first request that corresponds to theidentifier code. Further, the first queue may store a plurality ofidentifier codes associated with other requests from other users orother user devices. For example, the access management system mayreceive some or all of the requests for access rights for the firstresource received from various users and store all of these requests(e.g., identifier codes corresponding to the requests) in the firstqueue.

It will be appreciated that data other than or in addition to theidentifier code may be stored in the first queue and may uniquelyidentify the first request from other requests stored in the firstqueue. For example, the data representing the first request may beentirely stored in the first queue position in lieu of or in addition tothe identifier code being stored in the first queue position.

At block 1015, the access management system may identify the number ofpositions in the first queue that precede the stored identifier codecorresponding to the first request before the identifier code is to beprocessed by the first processor. In some embodiments, the firstprocessor may process positions storing identifier codes in a particularorder (e.g., in a sequential order). For example, the first processormay process a group of one or more positions in the first queue at thesame time. In other examples, the first processor may include one ormore processors or CPUs. In these examples, one or more groups ofpositions in the first queue may be simultaneously processed inparallel. The access management system may identify the number ofpositions (e.g., 1000 positions, 5 positions, 20 positions) remainingbefore the stored identifier code is to be processed by the firstprocessor. In some embodiments, the access management system mayidentify the number of positions in the first queue by counting thenumber of positions before the first processor is to process theidentifier code corresponding to the first request.

Processing a position in the first queue may correspond to enabling theuser or user device to be associated with an access right to theresource. In some embodiments, the first request or an identifier codecorresponding to the first request may be stored in the first queue,however, the access right may not be associated with the user or userdevice until the first request or identifier code corresponding to thefirst request is processed at the first processor. For example, when thefirst processor processes the identifier code corresponding to the firstrequest, the first processor may associate the user or user device witha first access right to the first resource by generating a barcoderepresenting the association between the user and the first access rightto the first resource. The barcode may represent the right to access thefirst resource by the user or user device. The barcode may also bestored in association with the user or user device (e.g., stored in adata store identifying that the barcode corresponds to the user or userdevice). For example, see U.S. Ser. No. 11/702,344, filed in the UnitedStates Patent & Trademark Office on Feb. 5, 2007, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety for all purposes.

It will be appreciated that the access management system may impose arestriction limit on the maximum number of access rights that can beassigned to the first resource. For example, if the restriction limithas been reached, the access management system may deny requests forassociation with access rights to the first resource. However, beforethe restriction limit has been reached, the access management system maygrant the requests as they are processed by the first processor.Accordingly, the access management system may be configured to determinethe likelihood of whether the identifier code corresponding to the firstrequest will be processed by the first processor before the restrictionlimit has been reached. For example, the access management system maycompare the restriction limit with the number of positions before theidentifier code is to be processed.

At block 1020, the access management system may determine a queueprotocol from a plurality of queue protocols. In some embodiments, aqueue protocol may include a protocol for facilitating management of aqueue (e.g., the first queue). Further, in some embodiments, the queueprotocol may include data representing a decision tree or workflow forprocessing tasks associated with the identifier codes stored in thefirst queue.

In some embodiments, a queue protocol may include data representing atask for the access management system to motivate abandonment ofrequests stored in the first queue. For example, the queue protocol mayinclude a task for the access management system to motivate deletion orcancellation (e.g., abandonment of requests stored in the first queue)of the identifier code stored in the first queue, thereby reducing theprocessing load on the first processor. In some embodiments, thedecision tree or task workflow may include facilitating transfer of theidentifier code corresponding to the first request to a second queueassociated with a second resource. For example, facilitating transfer ofthe identifier code to a second queue may include identifying aplurality of additional resources (e.g., resources other than therequested resource), determining a set of additional resources from theplurality of additional resources, and transmitting the set ofadditional resources to the user device to be displayed on the userdevice. The set of additional resources may be dynamically identified tomotivate the user to select one of the additional resources (e.g., adifferent seat for a different venue or event) from the set ofadditional resources, thereby transferring the identifier codecorresponding to the first request to a second queue (e.g., a queuecorresponding to the selected additional resource). In some embodiments,the second queue may be managed by a second processor. In otherembodiments, the second queue can be managed by the first processor or acombination of the first and second processors.

Transferring the identifier code from the first queue to the secondqueue may correspond to the user requesting an access right to thesecond resource and cancelling the first request for the first resource.For example, if the user selects one of the additional resourcesdisplayed on the user device, the selection of the additional resource(which is different from the first resource) is transmitted to theaccess management system. Further, the selection of the additionalresource indicates to the access management resource that the identifiercode corresponding to the first request is to be deleted from the firstqueue and stored in a second queue that is associated with the selectedadditional resource (e.g., the second resource). Deletion of theidentifier code may indicate that the user no longer requests to beassociated with the first access right to the first resource, and thatthe user requests to be associated with a second access right to thesecond resource instead.

In other embodiments, the queue protocol may include a decision tree ortask workflow for inhibiting (e.g., discouraging) transfer of theidentifier code corresponding to the first request to the second queue.For example, inhibiting transfer of the identifier code may includeidentifying a plurality of additional resources (e.g., resources otherthan the requested resource), determining a set of additional resourcesfrom the plurality of additional resources, and transmitting the set ofadditional resources to the user device to be displayed at the userdevice. The set of additional resources may be dynamically identified todiscourage the user from selecting one of the additional resources fromthe set of additional resources (e.g., discouraging the user fromtransferring the identifier code to a second queue associated withanother resource). For example, identifying a set of additionalresources that discourage the user from selecting one of the additionalresources may correspond to identifying a set of additional resourcesthat are of little interest or value to the user.

In some embodiments, the queue protocol may be determined based on oneor more factors. Examples of factors evaluated in determining the queueprotocol may include a total number of identifier codes stored in thefirst queue at a given time, the number of positions in the first queuebefore the identifier code corresponding to the first request is to beprocessed by the first processor, whether or not the restriction limithas been reached, the number of identifier codes stored in the firstqueue remaining until the restriction limit is reached, a processingload on the first processor for processing the plurality of identifiercodes stored in the first queue, or other suitable factor.

It will be appreciated that one queue protocol may be applied to a firstsegment (e.g., a first group of positions) of the first queue andanother queue protocol may be applied to a second segment (e.g., asecond group of positions) of the first queue. For example, a queueprotocol for motivating cancellation or deletion of requests for accessrights to the first resource may be applied to the first group ofpositions in the first queue and a queue protocol for inhibiting (e.g.,discouraging) cancellation or deletion of requests for access rights maybe applied to a second group of positions in the first queue. Forexample, the first group of positions may correspond to the group ofidentifier codes that will likely be processed by the first processor(e.g., identifier codes that are stored in positions within therestriction limit of the first resource) and the second group ofpositions may correspond to identifier codes that will not likely beprocessed by the first processor (e.g., identifier codes that are storedin positions that exceed the restriction limit of the first resource).

At block 1025, the access management system may access a plurality ofadditional resources from one or more data stores. In some embodiments,the plurality of additional resources (e.g., seats at other events orvenues) may include resources different from the first resource. Forexample, the plurality of additional resources may not include the firstresource but may include a second resource. In some embodiments, theplurality of additional resources may include all additional resourcesavailable at a given time. In other embodiments, the plurality ofadditional resources may include at least a portion of the additionalresources available at a given time (currently or in the future).

At block 1030, the access management system may dynamically identify aset of additional resources from the plurality of additional resources.In some embodiments, the set of additional resources may be identifiedbased, at least in part, on the queue protocol determined at block 1020.

For example, if a queue protocol for motivating cancellation or deletionof requests from the first queue is determined at block 1020, then theset of additional resources may be identified so as to increase thelikelihood that the user will select one of the set of additionalresources. In some embodiments, the access management system may accesshistorical data associated with the user and evaluate the historicaldata. Further, the access management system may determine a particularresource other than the first resource that the user has previouslyaccessed or obtained an access right based on the evaluation of thehistorical data. In other examples, the access management system maydetermine one or more additional resource types from the plurality ofadditional resources that the user has frequently accessed. For example,an additional resource type may correspond to a characteristic ofresource that the user has previously accessed. The access managementsystem may compare the determined one or more additional resources orresource types to the available additional resources in the plurality ofresources to determine the set of additional resources. For example, theaccess management system may compare a particular resource (other thanthe first resource that the user has previously accessed) to theplurality of additional resources. If the particular resource or anadditional resource associated with the particular resource exists inthe plurality of additional resources, the access management system mayinclude the particular resource in the set of additional resources.

For example, if a queue protocol for inhibiting cancellation or deletionof requests from the first queue is determined at block 1020, then theset of additional resources may be identified so as to decrease thelikelihood that the user will select one of the set of additionalresources. In some embodiments, the access management system may accesshistorical data associated with the user and evaluate the historicaldata. The access management system may identify a set of additionalresources from the plurality of additional resources that are of littleinterest or value to the user. For example, the access management systemmay identify one or more resources from the plurality of additionalresources that have a characteristic that is of little interest of valueto the user. For example, the access management system may access aprofile associated with the user to determine characteristics ofresources preferred or not preferred by the user. For example, see U.S.Ser. No. 11/702,344, filed in the United States Patent & TrademarkOffice on Feb. 5, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby expresslyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

At block 1035, the access management system may transmit a secondcommunication to the user device. In some embodiments, the secondcommunication may include data representing the set of additionalresources identified at block 1030. The transmission of the secondcommunication may be wireless or wired and may be over one or morenetworks.

At block 1040, the user device may receive the second communication anddisplay the identified set of additional resources on a display of theuser device. In some embodiments, receiving the second communicationcauses the set of additional resources to be displayed on the userdevice. In addition, the user device may also display the number ofpositions before the first request is to be processed by the firstprocessor and the likelihood that the first request will be processedbefore the restriction limit of access (e.g., the total number of accessrights that can be assigned to the first resource) to the first resourceis reached. In some embodiments, the user device may also display anelement (e.g., a button on the display) that enables the user to cancelor delete the first request from the first queue. Further, the displayedelement or another element associated with the displayed element mayenable the user to transfer the identifier code corresponding to thefirst request from the first queue to a second queue associated with asecond resource (e.g., the selected additional resource). For example,if the user device receives an input (from the user) corresponding to aselection of a second resource included in the set of additionalresources, the access management system may delete the identifier codefrom the first queue and transfer the identifier code (or a variation ofthe identifier code) to the second queue associated with the secondresource. The second queue may be managed by a second processor.

Accordingly, processing resources (e.g., CPUs that process data storedin queues) may be improved and efficiently managed using queueprotocols. The overall processing demand (e.g., system load) experiencedat a processor managing a queue may be efficiently managed by applying aqueue protocol to a portion or all of the queue. For example, when thefirst queue is overloaded (e.g., the load on the first processormanaging the first queue is high, the queue is full, and other similarsituations), a queue protocol may be applied to the first queue tomotivate transfer of data stored in the first queue to a second queuemanaged by a second processor, thereby improving management ofprocessing resources and improving overall operation of the accessmanagement system.

FIG. 21 illustrates an example user interface for displaying demandestimates. The user interface displays estimated demand (e.g., thenumber of tickets that are estimated will be purchased) vs. ticketprices for one or more scenarios (e.g., a pessimistic scenario based onpessimistic demand estimates, a likely scenario based on likely demandestimates, or an optimistic scenario based on optimistic demandestimates). The user interface provides controls via which the user canselect various methods to shape and scale the demand vs. price curvesfor the currently selected price level and estimation source (e.g., via“Demand Decay”, “Scale by Percent”, and “Fit Curve” tabs).

The tabs provide a different way to shape or scale the demand vs. pricecurve for the currently selected price level and estimation source. Forexample, the Demand Decay tab will perform an exponential fit of theestimates or guesses. The “Scale by Percent” tab enables the user toscale the curves by percent. The “Fit Curve” tab enables the user toinstruct the system to perform a second order polynomial fit of theestimates or guesses. The “Manual Guesses” tab enables the user to adddemand guesses (e.g., pessimistic, likely, and optimistic guesses) for agiven ticket price (e.g., $40 in this example). Rather than having toprovide a guess for each dollar increment, the user can specify howdemand is to be scaled between guesses (e.g., scale demand by percent)at a given ticket price increment. The user can also specify at whatticket price that next price level should be used.

The user can select one or more demand estimation sources (e.g.,accounting department, box office, general manager, etc.) which providedemand estimates at one or more select ticket price levels (e.g., PL 1or PL 2). The user can make the selections by clicking on a row in thetable of estimation sources and price levels.

Demand estimates are completed by adding enough demand guesses toapproximate demand for prices between the minimum and maximum ticketprices (e.g., provided by a user while creating a new cash flowanalysis). In this regard, completed demand estimates for a given pricelevel are color coded or otherwise emphasized. In the illustratedexample “PL 1” is complete, but “PL 2” is incomplete. The demand guessesmatrix tabulates the various ticket demand guesses at various pricepoints.

When the user moves the cursor over the graph, the correspondingpessimistic, likely, and optimistic demand approximations (including,but not limited to guesses) for the corresponding ticket price aredisplayed in the corresponding fields (e.g., the “Price” field, the“Pessimistic” field, the “Likely” field, and the “Optimistic” field”).The resulting estimates can be weighted and combined to produce anotherestimated demand vs. ticket price curve.

Specific details are given in the above description to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understoodthat the embodiments can be practiced without these specific details.For example, circuits can be shown in block diagrams in order not toobscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances,well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniquescan be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring theembodiments.

Implementation of the techniques, blocks, steps and means describedabove can be done in various ways. For example, these techniques,blocks, steps and means can be implemented in hardware, software, or acombination thereof. For a hardware implementation, the processing unitscan be implemented within one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signalprocessing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed toperform the functions described above, and/or a combination thereof.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments can be described as a processwhich is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, astructure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart can describethe operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations can be re-arranged. A process is terminated when itsoperations are completed, but could have additional steps not includedin the figure. A process can correspond to a method, a function, aprocedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process correspondsto a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the functionto the calling function or the main function.

Furthermore, embodiments can be implemented by hardware, software,scripting languages, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardwaredescription languages, and/or any combination thereof. When implementedin software, firmware, middleware, scripting language, and/or microcode,the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks can bestored in a machine readable medium such as a storage medium. A codesegment or machine-executable instruction can represent a procedure, afunction, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, asoftware package, a script, a class, or any combination of instructions,data structures, and/or program statements. A code segment can becoupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/orreceiving information, data, arguments, parameters, and/or memorycontents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. can be passed,forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memorysharing, message passing, ticket passing, network transmission, etc.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies can beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions can be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes can bestored in a memory. Memory can be implemented within the processor orexternal to the processor. As used herein the term “memory” refers toany type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or otherstorage medium and is not to be limited to any particular type of memoryor number of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.

Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term “storage medium”, “storage” or“memory” can represent one or more memories for storing data, includingread only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, corememory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flashmemory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for storinginformation. The term “machine-readable medium” includes, but is notlimited to portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices,wireless channels, and/or various other storage mediums capable ofstoring that contain or carry instruction(s) and/or data.

While the principles of the disclosure have been described above inconnection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearlyunderstood that this description is made only by way of example and notas limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for predictingfuture system loads by weighting previous request loads for resources,the method comprising: accessing, at a load management server, one ormore data sources; querying the one or more data sources for system loaddata including a first request load and a second request load, the firstrequest load representing a first rate of first query requests for aresource, the second request load representing a second rate of secondquery requests for the resource, the first query requests occurringduring a first time period, and the second query requests occurringduring a second time period; identifying each of a first attributeassociated with the first time period and a second attribute associatedwith the second time period, each of the first attribute and the secondattribute corresponding to a characteristic of the resource; identifyingeach of a first weight corresponding to the first attribute and a secondweight corresponding to the second attribute; determining a futurerequest load on the one or more data sources, the future request loadpredicting a load of third query requests to occur during a third timeperiod, the third time period being in the future, and the determinationof the future request load being based on at least one of the firstweight or the second weight; and identifying a parameter to associatewith the resource for the duration of the third time period occurring inthe future.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein thefirst request load is larger than the second request load, or the secondrequest load is larger than the first request load.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, andthird request loads correspond to requests for access rights associatedwith the resource, an access right facilitating entry to a spatial areaassociated with the resource.
 4. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein the first weight is proportional to the first requestload and the second weight is proportional to the second request load.5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the firstattribute indicates a first characteristic of the resource during thefirst time period, wherein the second attribute indicates a secondcharacteristic of the resource during the second time period, andwherein the first weight is determined based on the first attribute andthe second weight is determined based on the second attribute.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the futurerequest load includes generating an estimation of the future requestload during the third time period, wherein the estimation is generatedusing one or more interpolation processes.
 7. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein determining the future request load for theresource includes generating an estimation of the future request loadduring the third time period, wherein the estimation is generated usingone or more extrapolation processes.
 8. A system, comprising: one ormore data processors; and a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium containing instructions which, when executed on the one or moredata processors, cause the one or more data processors to performoperations including: accessing, at a load management server, one ormore data sources; accessing, at a load management server, one or moredata sources; querying the one or more data sources for system load dataincluding a first request load and a second request load, the firstrequest load representing a first rate of first query requests for aresource, the second request load representing a second rate of secondquery requests for the resource, the first query requests occurringduring a first time period, and the second query requests occurringduring a second time period; identifying each of a first attributeassociated with the first time period and a second attribute associatedwith the second time period, each of the first attribute and the secondattribute corresponding to a characteristic of the resource; identifyingeach of a first weight corresponding to the first attribute and a secondweight corresponding to the second attribute; determining a futurerequest load on the one or more data sources, the future request loadpredicting a load of third query requests to occur during a third timeperiod, the third time period being in the future, and the determinationof the future request load being based on at least one of the firstweight or the second weight; and identifying a parameter to associatewith the resource for the duration of the third time period occurring inthe future.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first request load islarger than the second request load, or the second request load islarger than the first request load.
 10. The system of claim 8, whereinthe first, second, and third request loads correspond to requests foraccess rights associated with the resource, an access right facilitatingentry to a spatial area associated with the resource.
 11. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the first weight is proportional to the first requestload and the second weight is proportional to the second request load.12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first attribute indicates a firstcharacteristic of the resource during the first time period, wherein thesecond attribute indicates a second characteristic of the resourceduring the second time period, and wherein the first weight isdetermined based on the first attribute and the second weight isdetermined based on the second attribute.
 13. The system of claim 8,wherein determining the future request load includes generating anestimation of the future request load during the third time period,wherein the estimation is generated using one or more interpolationprocesses.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein determining the futurerequest load for the resource includes generating an estimation of thefuture request load during the third time period, wherein the estimationis generated using one or more extrapolation processes.
 15. Acomputer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured tocause a data processing apparatus to perform operations including:accessing, at a load management server, one or more data sources;querying the one or more data sources for system load data including afirst request load and a second request load, the first request loadrepresenting a first rate of first query requests for a resource, thesecond request load representing a second rate of second query requestsfor the resource, the first query requests occurring during a first timeperiod, and the second query requests occurring during a second timeperiod; identifying each of a first attribute associated with the firsttime period and a second attribute associated with the second timeperiod, each of the first attribute and the second attributecorresponding to a characteristic of the resource; identifying each of afirst weight corresponding to the first attribute and a second weightcorresponding to the second attribute; determining a future request loadon the one or more data sources, the future request load predicting aload of third query requests to occur during a third time period, thethird time period being in the future, and the determination of thefuture request load being based on at least one of the first weight orthe second weight; and identifying a parameter to associate with theresource for the duration of the third time period occurring in thefuture.
 16. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the firstrequest load is larger than the second request load, or the secondrequest load is larger than the first request load.
 17. Thecomputer-program product of claim 15, wherein the first, second, andthird request loads correspond to requests for access rights associatedwith the resource, an access right facilitating entry to a spatial areaassociated with the resource.
 18. The computer-program product of claim15, wherein the first weight is proportional to the first request loadand the second weight is proportional to the second request load. 19.The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein the first attributeindicates a first characteristic of the resource during the first timeperiod, wherein the second attribute indicates a second characteristicof the resource during the second time period, and wherein the firstweight is determined based on the first attribute and the second weightis determined based on the second attribute.
 20. The computer-programproduct of claim 15, wherein determining the future request loadincludes generating an estimation of the future request load during thethird time period, wherein the estimation is generated using one or moreextrapolation processes.